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In a pilot public journalism project, University of Canberra journalism students partnered with the ABC 666, Canberra Refugee Support and OurSay to tackle some of the big questions about Australian asylum seeker policy, as experienced in the ACT.

The top 5 questions on OurSay featured on ABC 666 Canberra Radio in a special program on November 27th - produced and presented by UC students under the supervision of their UC lecturer, Julie Posetti. A panel of experts Allan Asher (Former Commonwealth Ombudsman), Richard Toll (Australian Regional Rep UNHCR) & Caz Coleman (Member of the Council for Immigration Services) tackled the top 5 questions.

You can download the podcast here with the OurSay segment starting from the 15:36.

in the hot seat: 666 ABC Canberra, UC, Canberra Refugee Support & Julie Posetti

Reporting Refugees

5Winners 32Questions 741votes 22Comments

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“How many countries should illegal immigrants be allowed to ignore on their way to Australia? If they ignore even one then by any definition other than that used by the UN they aren't actually refugees, so why does anyone enable these weasel words and the swamping of due process by immigration criminals? Sorry to bring the common sense, but hey.”

Jonathan Nolan · 2 years ago · 250 votes · 4 comments

“Why is it that if people arrive by plane without a valid passport/visa you are deported, but if you arrive illegally by boat without a valid passport/visa we are obliged to treat them differently?”

Joe Blow · 2 years ago · 96 votes · 3 comments

“Why has the arrival of so few people become such an enormous political issue? And how can politicians and society navigate through the political football-ing and hyperbole and ensure a level-headed discussion of the issues, so that we then may all start focussing on the things that ought to be front and centre of political debate - education, health and so on?”

Amy Bascomb · 2 years ago · 83 votes · 1 comments

“Why do illegal immigrants receive more than double the welfare benefits of elderly who have lived, worked, and paid taxes here all their lives? Many refugee advocates like to cry "you family were once from another country" but my grandparents came over here and had to pay their own way. Meanwhile, over 80% of refugees from places like Afghanistan are still dependent on welfare. If these people weren't seen as being leeches on our society people would probably care a lot less about them coming.”

Russell Hamstead · 2 years ago · 83 votes · 7 comments

“2 Questions: Why are people so terrified of 'boat people' coming to our shores to seek asylum? and Why does the Government not point out, very loudly and very clearly to the public that seeking asylum here (by boat or otherwise) is perfectly legal, and they are not 'jumping' any queue.”

Sharon Harnett · 2 years ago · 69 votes · 2 comments

Reporting Refugees

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Reporting Refugees

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Most voted questions See all questions

Other Answers:

The Sunday Age

The Queensland Agenda - Part 2

Electorate of Brand