ASYLUM seekers should be resettled in rural areas to boost regional economies, speakers at a Warrnambool forum say.
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It was just one of the ideas put forward at the Warrnambool Talking forum this week.
The forum attracted about 25 people to debate the nation’s asylum seeker policies and ways they could be improved.
Organiser Geoff Barker said both major parties’ asylum seeker policies were driven by the perception that voters supported a tough stance on the issue.
“The present policies are cruel and will keep on increasing in cost – financially and morally and to Australia’s international reputation,” he said.
“The government’s need for secrecy and the suppression of our freedoms will also increase.”
Attendees at the forum spoke about a number of possible solutions.
Among the other solutions was working co-operatively with neighbouring countries and the United Nations towards a regional solution, setting up processing centres in the places refugees first escape to and increasing the annual asylum seeker intake from 13,750 to 50,000 people.
“These ideas present a workable and sellable alternative that appeal to Australians’ better nature,” Reverend Barker said.
“They are also likely to cost less and the benefits of the spending would be felt in Australia. Refugees usually bring skills and enterprise and become grateful, contributing, tax-paying citizens.”