I wrote last week that the Coalition's marriage equality circus could somehow be the end of Turnbull as our Prime Minister. The released transcript of his conversation with Donald Trump shows it will not be a sad day when he does go (although none of his likely replacements are any reason to cheer). If you haven't read the appalling transcripts, published by The Washington Post, here is a link. It is hard to fully comprehend this lack of humanity towards vulnerable people. Turnbull's words make crystal clear the fact that the victims of our illegal offshore detention facilities have been thoroughly checked and are no threat to the country. The only reason they continue to be held in cruel and unsafe offshore detention is for appearances. If we needed any more evidence of the cynicism and stage management of this agreement, Turnbull gave it to us when he invited Trump to take as few refugees as he wanted- or none, just so long as he gave the appearance of going through the vetting process. Turnbull's rank hypocrisy is also on display in his offer to take ‘as many’ and ‘whoever’ Trump wanted us to take in return. While I think the danger argument around refugees is hopelessly over exaggerated (terrorists don't travel by boat they travel by plane) I would have thought those who are scared of refugees would prefer we accept refugees we have already thoroughly vetted and know to be safe ahead of the people America most wants to rid itself of.
Along with admitting to breaking Australian law by discriminating according to religion, Turnbull also admitted that Australia is in control of these facilities despite what Dutton claims whenever news of atrocities leak from these secretive gulags. That means we are responsible for every machete attack, every sexual assault, every preventable death from untreated medical conditions and every developing mental illness; not to mention multiple suicides. I accept that border control is a complex issue and that when speaking candidly Turnbull actually sounded more concerned about drownings at sea than I gave him credit for- but that is a disgusting catalogue of crimes that I wish my country wasn't responsible for. Considering the billions of dollars we spend on offshore detention- basically the only people that cost taxpayers more money per capita than the detainees are Julie Bishop and Barnaby Joyce- this is not happening by accident. My tax dollars contribute to this abuse. How can I be okay with that? How can anyone?
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