Scott Morrison is now Prime Minister of Australia. Read this article in the Guardian Australia about a 7-year-old held on Nauru and remember: Scott Morrison could fix this in an instant, if he was true to his stated beliefs.
It is amazing to see how far dishonesty and hypocrisy can get you in this country.
Scott Morrison’s maiden speech in Parliament placed great emphasis on his Christian values. Among other things he said:
“So what values do I derive from my faith? My answer comes from Jeremiah, chapter 9:24:
… I am theLord who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord.
From my faith I derive the values of loving-kindness, justice and righteousness, to act with compassion and kindness, acknowledging our common humanity and to consider the welfare of others; to fight for a fair go for everyone to fulfil their human potential and to remove whatever unjust obstacles stand in their way, including diminishing their personal responsibility for their own wellbeing; and to do what is right, to respect the rule of law, the sanctity of human life and the moral integrity of marriage and the family. We must recognise an unchanging and absolute standard of what is good and what is evil. Desmond Tutu put it this way:
… we expect Christians … to be those who stand up for the truth, to stand up for justice, to stand on the side of the poor and the hungry, the homeless and the naked, and when that happens, then Christians will be trustworthy believable witnesses.
These are my principles.”
If those are Scott Morrison’s principles, he is not a man of his principles. During his time as Immigration Minister, Morrison showed no trace of “loving kindness” or justice or compassion for refugees who came to Australia by boat looking for protection from persecution.
Peter Dutton claims to be Christian, but he boycotted Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Stolen Generations in February 2008. Like other members of Coalition governments during the past 16 years, he refers to boat people as “illegal” and he administers a system of detention which shows astonishing cruelty.
This is not the place to give details of Australia’s mistreatment of refugees: the facts are well-enough known. Equally well-known is the Coalition message that a harsh refugee policy is essential to protect refugees from the risk of drowning.
But to suggest that Morrison and other politicians are worried about refugees drowning is a lie: a fig-leaf to make immoral mistreatment look compassionate. “Worried about people drowning”! So worried that, if they don’t drown, we punish them as if they were criminals, and call them “illegal” to make their punishment look vaguely respectable. We do it, explicitly, as a deterrent so that others will not try to find safety in Australia. And these dishonest politicians, pretending to be motivated by compassion, overlook altogether that if persecuted people stand their ground and are killed by their persecutors, they are still dead: just as if they drowned; if they die in an attempt to escape to some other country, they are still dead: just as if they drowned.
For politicians like Morrison, Abbott, Turnbull and Dutton to say they are worried about boat people drowning is a lie. For them to mistreat asylum seekers in the way they do is a betrayal of the Christian values they cherish.
Our new PM, Scott Morrison, is a dishonest hypocrite, just like the PM he replaces and Dutton, who replaced him as Immigration Minister.
Keep up the great work Julian. I agree that hypocrisy must be exposes and this man is guilty as charged.
Thank you Julian, for being an inspiring and encouraging example for us all. I have tried to practice some of these ideals, but it is always so encouraging to feel there is a big community standing with the grossly oppressed. Best regards, Darwin-based Darien
It is not Scott Morrison’s job to play the Good Samaritan.
It is Scott Morrison’s job to protect Australia’s borders.
Nevertheless, Morrison’s resolve in protecting Australia’s maritime borders has saved countless souls from drowning at sea.
This can only be considered a win, by all sides.
Splendid rationalization, harbi.
This is a man who deliberately tried to block genuine refugees from getting visas. GENUINE REFUGEES.
A man who personally oversaw a chain of concentration camps which has seen countless breaches of human rights and destroyed countless lives physically, mentally and emotionally.
How is that a “win for all sides”???
Our policies are wrong and must be changed. Our politicians must make a joint effort and come up with a system that doesn’t dehumanise asylum seekers. Australia will be better for it in the eyes of the world and its citizens can regain their pride in this country.
The current treatment of fellow human beings seeking asylum is a large festering and necrotic wound on the reputation of all contemporary Australians.
Thanks Jules for your leadership.
I agree with Harbi,it is very moralistic opportunism to label Morrison a practising hypocrite
I agree however that the Government should do more to support local refugees especially youth programs.
As Christians we should show passion and lobby extensively our State, Federal and local Governments to supply more funding and facilities to support this enormous youth problem
Scott Morrison is a dangerous religious nutcase. He is typical of the swine that dwell in the Liberal Party who use fear as a political tool.
Oh, he is definitely a two faced hypocrite devoid of humane feelings towards fellow man.
He was not voted in to the Prime Ministership but placed there by the extreme right of the Liberal Party.
Hopefully, voters will kick him so hard out of power he will land off the coast of Chile and drown.