Australia catching 'compassion-fatigue'

Dewi Anggraeni, journalist and novelist, Melbourne, Australia

It has been proven, over and over again, that when times are hard, people close ranks, generosity evaporates, and those outside -- especially the ones without any political string to pull -- are the first casualty.

Australia is a country which since 1788 has given a new home and new life to countless thousands of immigrants. However during the last decade, especially in the last two years, its treatment of those who arrived unannounced at its doorsteps has caused increasing alarm among people who have humanitarian concern, inside as well as outside the country. It has not only detained asylum-seeking refugees as soon as they reached Australian shores; more recently boatloads have been turned away while still at sea.

Money does not seem to be the primary problem. After failing to obtain Indonesia's agreement to set up and fund detention centers in this country, Australia has negotiated a deal of A$20 million, the amount allegedly increasing each day, with more refugees expected from the island of Nauru, to reroute the asylum seekers from their original destination, Australia.

So what exactly is the problem? Is the government of the day lacking in compassion? This may well be true, but it certainly is not the whole truth. There are indications that support in the community is increasing for the government's stand.

Recent polls show that Prime Minister John Howard was able to regain his hitherto lagging popularity by coming across as the "strong man" who defended the nation's lifestyle and civilization as we know it, just in time for the election planned for early November.

The economy has had several major blows; the fall of one of the nation's biggest airlines, Ansett being the most resounding. More recently, the scope of financial trouble of the mining giant Pasminco was also revealed.

With Ansett still reeling after the spectacular collapse over two weeks ago -- the anger of the workers who lost their jobs overnight still ringing in the air -- only a leader who was prepared to lose an election would adopt any policy to bring in more people.

Against this background the asylum seekers are seen by the government as a political liability. Not wanting to appear totally callous, the government quickly arranged for them to be tucked away somewhere out of sight, hoping that it would also be out of the voters' mind when they go to the polls in less than two months.

An added element of bad luck for the unfortunate asylum seekers is the negative images attributed to them, projecting them not as those who are in need of sympathy and a helping hand, but as quasi villains whose qualifications as refugees are doubtful -- they have paid thousands of dollars to the agent- smugglers; and who have aggressive temperaments proven by the numerous occasions of rioting and attempts at escape. There may even be, some think, terrorists among them! In brief, they are regarded as people who would bring anything but good to the society if let free from the detention centers or let into the country from the shores.

The imminent election is such a powerful factor that even the Opposition has shifted grounds. Prime Minister Howard has always been known as a leader whose priorities are in domestic politics, hence the community support he receives is enough incentive to continue with a stand which has drawn international criticism.

He has even called Labor Opposition leader Kim Beazley as a "flip-flop" man, because of his indecisiveness vis-a-vis what to do with the asylum seekers. However, that was a thing of the past.

On Sept. 26, controversial laws with far-reaching consequences for asylum seekers were passed by the Senate, after debate had been cut short by the federal government as well as the opposition.

Where was Beazley? He was seen and heard on the electronic media expressing his support for the policy, allegedly for the sake of the nation's security. It was not hard to work out however, what prompted this shift. Public opinion shows his popularity is lagging behind Howard. Time is running out, and he has to catch up quickly.

The key is in the electorate, who can vote a government in or out. When "compassion-fatigue" strikes, the number of outstretched arms will drop drastically, and those who depend on them -- in this case the asylum seekers -- are left in the lurch.