Kevin Rudd - and people arriving by boat

Over the past few years we've noticed a wide range of terms used for those people who arrive in Australian waters by boat.

They range from 'illegal immigrants' to 'asylum seekers' to 'refugees'. Recently I heard someone read the term 'irregular arrivals'.

During the years of the Howard government, much was made by opponents of their stance on illegal immigration and the use of detention centres. One thing was certain - the flood of boats bringing these people stopped.

After the Rudd government was elected, they dismantled some of the detention policies of the Howard government. Some commentators warned that the people smugglers in Indonesia - and those using their services to come to Australia- would take that as a message that they could now get into Australia more easily.

You may have heard the strident statements by Kevin Rudd last week, calling the people "illegal immigrants" and saying the people smugglers were "vile".

Even within his own party there has been those who disagreed with his statements and language.

Then on the weekend, there was an amazing article by Chris Uhlmann, who is the political editor of the ABC's 7.30 Report.

He highlights the fact that Kevin Rudd himself criticised the Howard government prior to the election and cited his own Chrisitanity as the reason for having a more humane approach.
Now Chris tells us exactly what Kevin said then - and his reliance on Bonhoeffer - and compares it to his actions!

He concludes: "In the modern, relativistic, world of politics the only way of measuring a man or woman is against their own words. This was not a large test of character. But it is a telling one."

St Kevin's halo may choke him
Chris Uhlmann | October 24, 2009 - The Australian.