History of visas is complex in Aus

Columnist Peta Credlin highlighted a lack of checks on refugees from war-torn Hamas controlled Gaza, (“Gazan visa scheme is a sure sign of desperation”, SM, 25/8), suggesting a political gambit of visas for votes.

An impromptu intake of refugees subject to violence and oppression is not unprecedented in Australia.

On China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre of protesters, an emotional and tearful Bob Hawke, then Labor Prime Minister, made a captain’s choice to extend temporary permits for Chinese nationals legally here for 12 months.

A submission to cabinet within a month covered 42,000 Chinese including 16,200 students in Australia, granting them permanent visas.

Sympathy by Australians was backed by academic experts citing Australia’s improved development and skills base. It broke the back of remaining support for white Australia and was thought to have created a new middle class.

In 1992, the Keating government introduced mandatory detention for unauthorised arrivals.

Shadow Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock spoke on control of entry for permanent settlement and regulation of Chinese students here, saying residency should not be granted merely due to delays in application.

Rights of legitimate refugees in the queue were imperilled.

Hawke’s decision was considered wrong.

China’s attitude at the time of Tiananmen Square was that political turmoil had to be quelled to enjoy stability.

Has that changed? Recent comment here is that some Chinese residents who witnessed the events of Tiananmen had become supporters of the Chinese Communist Party.

A Chinese saying is to forget history is treason.

Despite critical security concerns and settled policy, government under PM Albanese appears to have resorted to Hawke’s impulsive if well-meaning attitude in the Gazan immigration debacle.

Ros Smith, Middle Park