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Novelist Alex Miller attacks Australia's 'cruel and inhumane' refugee treatment Novelist Alex Miller attacks Australia's 'cruel and inhumane' refugee treatment
(7 days later)
Alex Miller, one of Australia’s most awarded novelists, has criticised his country’s “cruel and inhumane” treatment of refugees, admitting the situation has made him reconsider what it means to be Australian.Alex Miller, one of Australia’s most awarded novelists, has criticised his country’s “cruel and inhumane” treatment of refugees, admitting the situation has made him reconsider what it means to be Australian.
Miller, who was born in London but moved to Australia as a teenager in the 1950s, wrote in a short essay that he initially experienced Australians as a “welcoming and generous people but this doesn’t seem true anymore”.Miller, who was born in London but moved to Australia as a teenager in the 1950s, wrote in a short essay that he initially experienced Australians as a “welcoming and generous people but this doesn’t seem true anymore”.
Miller wrote: “The generosity of the Australian Aborigines is legendary and has often been abused but it persists and we, the boat people, are still welcome. Sadly, among many refugee and migrants and their children there is an attitude of ‘we're in! You can shut the door now'. And they are not alone as it seem the majority of voters support the government’s policies.Miller wrote: “The generosity of the Australian Aborigines is legendary and has often been abused but it persists and we, the boat people, are still welcome. Sadly, among many refugee and migrants and their children there is an attitude of ‘we're in! You can shut the door now'. And they are not alone as it seem the majority of voters support the government’s policies.
“We, all of us, the beneficiaries of the persisting Aboriginal generosity, can’t find it in our hearts to make a few thousand desperate refugees welcome here?”“We, all of us, the beneficiaries of the persisting Aboriginal generosity, can’t find it in our hearts to make a few thousand desperate refugees welcome here?”
Miller’s essay, which runs to three pages, is for a new book, A Country Too Far, which focuses on the issue of asylum seekers. Edited by authors Rosie Scott and Tom Keneally, the book features contributions from writers as diverse as Christos Tsiolkas, author of The Slap, and SBS football host Les Murray. Miller’s essay, which runs to three pages, is for a new book, A Country Too Far, which focuses on the issue of asylum seekers. Edited by authors Rosie Scott and Tom Keneally, the book features contributions from writers as diverse as Christos Tsiolkas, author of The Slap, and the poet Les Murray.
Miller has won Australia’s premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Literary Award, twice – first in 1993 for The Ancestor Game and again in 2003 for Journey to the Stone Country.Miller has won Australia’s premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Literary Award, twice – first in 1993 for The Ancestor Game and again in 2003 for Journey to the Stone Country.
He wrote that both Labor and the Coalition were complicit in creating offshore detention and fostering a sense of animosity towards refugees. Miller likened this approach to Britain’s treatment of Jews fleeing Nazi-era Germany.He wrote that both Labor and the Coalition were complicit in creating offshore detention and fostering a sense of animosity towards refugees. Miller likened this approach to Britain’s treatment of Jews fleeing Nazi-era Germany.
“Even if our sense of morality doesn’t include the refugee, we are surely bound by the imperatives of our common humanity to make welcome here those who seek refuge from tyrant among us, whoever they are, whatever their religion or caste,” he wrote.“Even if our sense of morality doesn’t include the refugee, we are surely bound by the imperatives of our common humanity to make welcome here those who seek refuge from tyrant among us, whoever they are, whatever their religion or caste,” he wrote.
“It is an excuse to refuse hospitality to these desperate people. And most Australians are not shamed by it and do not feel deeply betrayed by it. My experience of Australians is of a welcoming and generous people but this doesn’t seem true anymore.“It is an excuse to refuse hospitality to these desperate people. And most Australians are not shamed by it and do not feel deeply betrayed by it. My experience of Australians is of a welcoming and generous people but this doesn’t seem true anymore.
“We enjoy the riches of being one of the most successful multicultural societies, surely? All refugees and migrants have added to the quality of our lives here.“We enjoy the riches of being one of the most successful multicultural societies, surely? All refugees and migrants have added to the quality of our lives here.
“So why don’t we feel betrayed and shamed as Australians and human beings by the cruel and inhuman treatment our government is meting out to refugees? And when we see that both of our major political parties share the same views on this question why don’t we feel a kind of despair about the failure of our democracy to offer us a choice?”“So why don’t we feel betrayed and shamed as Australians and human beings by the cruel and inhuman treatment our government is meting out to refugees? And when we see that both of our major political parties share the same views on this question why don’t we feel a kind of despair about the failure of our democracy to offer us a choice?”
Guardian Australia revealed this week that 15 doctors said decisions made by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, had a “direct and significant” impact upon their detainee patients on Christmas Island. The doctors put their names to a damning 92-page letter which details repeated malpractice and inadequate conditions endured by asylum seekers, who are detained indefinitely.Guardian Australia revealed this week that 15 doctors said decisions made by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, had a “direct and significant” impact upon their detainee patients on Christmas Island. The doctors put their names to a damning 92-page letter which details repeated malpractice and inadequate conditions endured by asylum seekers, who are detained indefinitely.
In concluding his essay, Miller writes: “I’m sorry I don’t have any answers to offer, but only these questions that are forcing me to reconsider what it means to be Australian.”In concluding his essay, Miller writes: “I’m sorry I don’t have any answers to offer, but only these questions that are forcing me to reconsider what it means to be Australian.”
• This article was amended on 2 January 2014. An earlier version said the SBS football host Les Murray had contributed to the anthology A Country Too Far. It was the poet Les Murray who was the contributor.
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