No, it’s not ‘worse’ for refugees

Comparison to experience of Holocaust victims indefensible

Having already fully endorsed the controversial medivac proposals in the Senate, Bill Shorten now appears to be all over the place (“Shorten in backdown on borders”, 12/2).

Meanwhile, in some obscene comparison, the paediatric representative for the Australian Medical Association, Paul Bauert, has publicly claimed that even the Holocaust victims at Auschwitz were better off than those refugees languishing on Manus and Nauru because at least “they knew their fate” (“Doctor apologises for Auschwitz comparison”, 12/2).

Apart from this morally indefensible link to one of history’s most horrific and programmed genocides, no real regret has been forthcoming from the AMA.

And after so much advice relating to the repercussions of legislating for the weakening of our strong border controls, would Labor still push ahead with another potential “deaths at sea” scenario? Our nation watched in horror and disbelief as more than 1200 men, women and children drowned before our very eyes.

We await your decision, Opposition Leader.

Lyle Geyer, Essendon, Vic

No, Paul Bauert, no Jew “at least found some sense of relief” in knowing that he or she was about to be gassed to death. First, there was no foreknowledge of one’s fate and further, as Viktor Frankl makes clear, people value life over death. When did it become acceptable to equate all and every human rights issue with government-planned and implemented murder of millions of its citizens?

Any pretension Bauert may have had to being either a proponent for human rights or a historian he has well and truly trashed in his comments, despite his subsequent apology. His statements can no longer be regarded as having any credibility.

Nina Bassat, Brighton, Vic

The previous Labor government that Bill Shorten served lasted for 300 weeks. It was responsible for 50,000 irregular arrivals by undocumented immigrants rich enough to pay people-smugglers between $10,000 and $20,000 a head. Approximately 165 per week, four of whom were dead on arrival, having perished at sea.

The official death toll only counts bodies recovered from the sea. Unseaworthy hulks are the vessels of choice because every boat that reaches Australia or gets intercepted is destroyed and the number of boats lost at sea is undisclosed.

Indonesia previously implored the ALP to “take the sugar off the table” and if the socialists again weaken the nation’s border controls, we may expect 600-plus drownings in the first term of a Shorten Labor government.

Greg Jones, Kogarah, NSW

It would be instructive to have Kerryn Phelps and those supporting the medivac amendments to be party to the same security briefings that convinced Bill Shorten to give way to common sense and examine the outcome of this meeting.

John McHarg, Maylands, WA

Could Bill Shorten be about to do a Kim Beazley? Beazley pathetically acquiesced when prime minister John Howard pulled his disgraceful Tampa tactic; prime minister Scott Morrison obviously believes he’s on to a winner, with the Coalition confident it can successfully wedge the ALP on the issue of border control.

The question of ill asylum-seekers being sent to Australia for badly needed medical attention is not an issue of border protection; it’s essentially one of basic human rights, namely treating fellow human beings in our care with dignity and respect.

Whatever its final form, Shorten will authorise the government to set up its own panel of medical experts to review cases and it’s in control of the whole process. Shame on the morally bankrupt dirty politics being played with people’s lives.

Kevin Burke, Eltham, Vic

Paul Bauert may be an excellent doctor but his knowledge of Auschwitz is way off . The Jews went to their deaths believing they were going into a shower to be deloused. They were unaware of what was going to happen until the poison pellets were dropped down shafts and the gas began its deadly work. The ALP wants to put our refugee intake into the hands of these doctors. What a sick joke.

Gary Fletcher, Bundaberg, Qld

Who would you rather look after you if you were ill? A doctor or a politician?

Con Vaitsas, Ashbury, NSW