The media is not unknown for distorting information or producing it in a way that is more saleable, sensationalist if you like.
Aussiegirl with
I think they are getting priority in processing in order to get them through and out of the system so that other visa classes can be assessed. I don't think places are being lost to them, though. ASIO is experiencing huge strain in checking their criminal backgrounds and such, which has affected all other visas that require the same checks in order to be granted a visa.
indicates a couple of things that have happened and that's
1. There was a boat from somewhere or other with SriLankans if I recall that sent out an SOS in Indonesian waters and an Aussie boat that is more usually used in southern waters was requested by Indonesians to give assistance which it did.
What ensued then for about a month was the Aussie boat then being moored in Indonesian waters and the Sri Lankans refusing to leave and they negotiated to get a special deal re their refugee applications being considered.
Not all applications get automatically approved btw but as Aussiegirl indicates, the increased flow of refugees does strain ASIO resources and that had been reported in the media here and so it is quite likely that all sorts of stories could develop from that.
It may be the way of some countries
[ and in deed there would be some Australians who may well think the same way ] that you just send in sufficient police/military or whomever and bodily drag people off a boat in that situation with them kicking and screaming etc., something the media would play up into an even bigger story.
We have already had a number of occurrences where people in detention and even on boats apprehended have done themselves significant self harm/mutilation and even with deaths occurring.
It is difficult if you're not in a situation of dire and even life threatening circumstances to appreciate just what level of desperation some people may go to and I suppose that Australia being considered to be a land of generally reasonably generous and receptive peoples, that message probably gets back to lands where people are suffering and the numbers of boats arriving in our northern waters is stretching not just ASIO resources.
As Aussiegirl also refers to, there has been a suspension of sorts placed on processing refugee applications of people from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, both countries likely having great hardships and life threatening circumstances for some people there.
The whole situation is of concern one way or another to many Australians and in deed there will be some who have a level of hatred.
I just today read an online report re the existence iof the Klu Lux Klan in Australia -
KKK teacher helped student dump body and indeed Australia like most if not all countries will not be without its racists and those opposing things of other cultures.
Europe for instance at the moment with some countries outlawing women of Islamic religion from wearing various head apparel and the extent of feelings on " illegal migrants " or refugees has seen some being run out of regions, those same regions possibly having some working as cheap labour.
There has also been some dissatisfaction expressed in some Australian communities where some settling in has been initiated, acceptance of people from different backgrounds and a high level of assimilation always likely to take considerable time, that being the experience of immigration over many decades.
This is not the first time that Australia has had refugees coming in larger numbers either and substantial numbers came from Vietnam in the late 70s and we have also not turned away Chinese either for no doubt you know of Tiananmen Square and at the time I think it was of the order of 15,000 Chinese students in Australia were offered the option of permanent residency.
There are likely some many very cruel things occurring everyday all over the planet, thousands dying of malnutrition in Africa for instance, not to mention those who have suffered great natural disasters in many countries, so whilst attempting to give refugees a better life can have its own issues, lets not begrudge a little generosity in helping those relative few who are attempting to help themselves and their families and many dying in the attempt.