Tony Abbott Quotes
What we are determined to do is to take more people from Syria and that war-torn part of the world as a response to this particular crisis, but again I stress we are taking people from camps because the last thing we want to do is to encourage and reward people smuggling.We are taking people from camps and we are taking family groups; our focus will be on family groups, from persecuted minorities.
Abbott, Tony. "Press Conference, Canberra." Prime Minister of Australia Transcripts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 6 Sept. 2015.
In 2016 millions of refugees were fleeing the chaos, violence, dictatorships, and revolutions of many of the Muslim Nations of the Middle East and the nations in Africa where Islamists were using violence and terrorism to try and take over the governments. Many, despite the danger, tried to reach Europe, and millions did—–far more than the European governments were prepared to handle and most European populations were unwilling to accept. This immigration created another crisis of its own.
The issue of admission of relatives of citizens had, in the 20th century, become controversial as some political forces worked to restrict immigration. The result of politicizing this issue was that the relatives who would receive immigration priorities would change every time Congress legislated about anything involving immigration and asylum. Immigrants from some countries could have their aunts and uncles get priority while other countries it was only siblings, children and parents. And still others would be children only. There was also racial and ethnic discrimination in that nations with white populations received a broader right to have relatives immigrate than non-white.
Anthony John Abbott AC is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015 and leader of the Liberal Party from 2009 to 2015. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2009 to 2013, and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Warringah from 1994 to 2019. He is currently an adviser to the British government's Board of Trade.
