what would you do with $5.8million

Now, it might be a bit nerdy I know, but I actually don't mind looking into Federal budgets!

When you look past the massive figures that really don't make any sense to me -  you can see where policy really is heading. Fairly simple; if an issue has f***all funding -  mental health in 2010/11 for example -  it is quite clear that when the Government craps on about 'being committed to tackling mental health issues in Australia, having an agenda for change, looking to the future' etc etc it's empty rhetoric because there are no $$ set aside to actually make anything happen. 

My favourite treasure from this recently announced budget... 

$5.8million for 2 staff to go to Afghanistan and stop asylum seekers from coming here to seek protection. 

I shit you not. 

This is not something out of Monty Python -  although I do have some great visuals on 2 Aussie dudes all kitted out making mad dashes over mountain passes a-la-roadrunner, standing on street corners in dusty towns showing locals pictures of Australia's bushfires, snakes and crocodiles -  DONT GO - you think the Taliban is bad...

Honestly, the Rudd Government is sending '2 staff for 2 years to stop asylum seekers at the source' and the total cost is 5.8 million Australian taxpayer dollars. Most of course will go on security (unless those 2 guys are paid around $1.5 million/yr each) -  but that doesn't make sense because why would 2 guys need so much security in a country that is safe and from where people don't need to flee?? (according to the Rudd Government, this is the case and that's why they are not processing the asylum applications of the Afghans on Christmas Island who came after 9 April).  These 2 guys 'stopping the flow of asylum seekers' will no doubt employ local interpreters, fixers and guides -  these locals will be relatively well paid and so will take the job which at the same time puts their life at risk. The whole situation is just so bizarre I can't quite believe someone sitting in Canberra thunk it up and it got past a senior desk, into the budget and out to the public! Not to mention the mathematicians, this year around 1200 Afghans have asked Australia for protection - back when we used to process claims from these people, over 90% were found to be genuine refugees. Do these numbers warrant the spend?

5.8 million dollars - imagine the indigenous housing, the remote health care centre, the refuge for homeless youth, the renewable energy rebates for homes, the dignified care of seniors - allocating the budget is about making choices, its where the Government firmly puts its priorities on paper and this government is choosing to spend our money on 2 guys running around in fatigues having no f***ing impact whatsoever trying to stop people from doing what they can to get their family to a place where they won't be raped, shot or tortured. Nice one Rudd.

This bit is not for everyone I know, but go on.. it won't make you a crazed political activist, just an engaged citizen!

Senate Estimates Committees meet in the next few weeks. Its where we say thank goodness for minor parties and independents, and at times even the opposition -  each committee deals with certain portfolio spending and those Senators not in Government hold the Govt representatives to account on why, how, what. 

I know it's not for everyone but on any issue you can Get in touch with your Senator, it's their job to represent us and we have every right to ask them to be checking on what the hell the Government is up to, its our money they are spending. If they are not on a particular estimates committee, ask them to send your query to their party colleague who is. 

It's the Aussie way

A boat... about 45 adults and 15 children on board. They're Australian they are sailing around the world (not after a world record so any distance above the equator will do) and their next stop is Faro, Portugal. 

Portugese Customs received a distress call from the boat 10 days ago. One of the trip organisers got things a bit wrong, the boat is nearly out of food, water and fuel. Hungry teenagers, unwell uncles, it's not going so well !! A U.S ship passes by the Aussies -  reports that all is ok, the Portugese still know where the boat is and that it's on it's way to their shores. No further checks are carried out, they'll arrive in about a week. 

They don't arrive.

Things on board are bad, the young children really need food, the boat will drift off course without fuel, they've been at sea for weeks -  people are feeling weak, tired, sick. Some people on board have had bad experiences in the past this boat trip is bringing back all sorts of horrendous nightmares. Some of the men can't take it anymore, on board are their children, wives, sisters, uncles, friends -  they construct a raft of sorts and head off on the expanse of blue, grey choppy water to find help. What else could they do. Is it a choice -  you are the strongest on board, you have to try and help the others, don't you? Besides, the captain made that distress call over a week ago, the Portugese will be on their way to check on the boat... won't they. 

The 5 men don't make it back to the boat, no other vessel picks them up -  the remainder of the Aussies don't make it to shore. The Portugese officials eventually go to boat's aid and take the passengers to a remote island that is not Portugese territory and then locks them up in detention. 

Furious at Portugal? Think they should have done more? Do you feel for those 5 brave men, do you worry about the other passengers who are now detained with no idea when they will get off the remote island or where they will be sent -  they have just lost 5 of their fellow travellers, they are tired and scared. 

I can't even begin to imagine the emotion, fear, physical sickness that these people would have been feeling. Compound that with the fact that they are not Australian -  they are Sri Lankan, they are fleeing war, their homes have been destroyed, family members killed, it is not safe to send their children to school in the town they grew up in -  this boat trip was a chance at a safe, new beginning. 

Just imagine for a moment if this story was actually about 60 Aussies sailing around Europe. Six Aussie families who'd saved for the trip, Michelle's 50th, Sam's 21st, it would reunite all the Thompson kids who have been living all around the world, Faro was to to be the last port, from there people were going to fly off to other destinations or home - they were due to land on Tom and Sarah's third wedding anniversary -  Tom was one of the five men... 

We won't hear the personal stories from the real life version, we won't see the colour photographs from the couple's wedding, the interviews with the 9 year olds who are worried about their classmate who was on board, the neighbour who remembers the good deeds of those on board. These Sri Lankan asylum seekers will remain labeled as the latest "illegal boat arrival" -  the boat gets named by Australia "SIEV #whatever" (suspected illegal entry vessel). 

It is not illegal to seek asylum, it is illegal for Australia to deny these people the right to have their story heard (we are not processing claims from Sri Lankans at the moment!). And surely it is against the law of the sea to leave a boat like this unchecked. 

A policy where inhumane treatment is the benchmark will only lead to more deaths. A population who cannot see asylum seekers as individual humans will continue to let Governments do this. 

If you think I made it up -  read this

(apologies to Portugal, no reason for picking you in this scenario!!)

Image by Katyousha from a Dec, 2005 refugee action. Published in UTS mag.