When it comes to Australia’s treatment of refugees who arrive by boat, there’s at least one thing everyone agrees on: the seriousness of the dilemma. Laborites, Liberals, Greens, advocates and rightwing columnists alike always preface their comments on the debate with a sombre acknowledgement of just how “complex”, “difficult”, “uneasy”, “uncomfortable” and “heartbreaking” it all is.
I’m tempted to use another term: a term that begins with the sixth letter of the alphabet and rhymes with “ducked”.
The situation is ducked. It’s ducked up and it’s been ducked up for a long time.