The document challenges racist myths about refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat. It argues that refugees have a right to seek asylum and are fleeing dire circumstances like war and persecution. It notes that most boat arrivals are found to be legitimate refugees. It also argues that a humane refugee policy would be more ethical and cost-effective than the current approach, and that fears of being "swamped" by refugees are unfounded and fueled by racism.

1. Challenging the racist lies and building solidarity with refugees Alex, Tamil refugee “When people are fleeing war and genocide, how can a country think protecting themselves is more important than helping these people? The world is for all of humankind, we are just like you except we do not have a country.” “We are not animals, we are people, but we are being treated inhumanely.” Brindah, 9yrs old “ Please help us and save our lives. We are your children. Please think of us” “ This government makes no apology for a hard-line approach to people smuggling and border security.”

2. The Indonesia solution

6. Global statistics on asylum seekers Major refugee hosting countries (end 2008) Source: UNHCR (2009). 2008 Global Trends: Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Persons . 16 June 2009. United Kingdom 292,100 China 301,000 Kenya 320,600 United Rep. of Tanzania 321,900 Chad 330,500 Jordan 500,400 Germany 582,700 Islamic Rep. of Iran 980,100 Syrian Arab Rep. 1,105,700 Pakistan 1,780,900

7. MYTH: Australia is a generous taker of refugees

9. Asylum seekers arriving to Australia by boat or plane are vastly outnumbered by the number of people who illegal overstay their visa. Statistics of Visa Overstayers and Unauthorised Arrivals – 1991 to 2008. 1,451 25 1,476 48,500 07-08 1,388 135 1,523 46,500 06-07 1,598 56 1,654 46,400 05-06 1,632 0 1,632 47,800 04-05 1,241 82 1,323 50,900 03-04 987 0 987 59,800 02-03 1,193 3,649 4,842 60,400 01-02 1,512 4,137 5,649 60,000 00-01 1,695 4,175 5,870 58,748 99-00 2,106 921 3,027 53,150 98-99 1,558 157 1,715 50,950 97-98 1350 365 1,715 45,100 96-97 663 589 1,252 n/a 95-96 485 1,071 1,526 n/a 94-95 n/a 194 n/a n/a 93-94 n/a 194 n/a n/a 92-93 n/a 78 n/a 81,164 91-92 No. unauthorised arrivals by air No. unauthorised arrivals by sea Total no. unauthorised arrivals No. of overstayers Year

16. Conclusion – turn racism on its head!