By Anthony Barich
MAINTAINING border security is essential while undertaking “serious, constructive dialogue” with countries where boat people are coming from to solve the controversy, the Australian Bishops’ prelate in charge of migrant and refugee issues said.
Sandhurst Bishop Joseph Grech had criticised the former Coalition Governmnet’s policy of sending people who enter Australia illegally to one of three offshore immigration detention centres for processing, but he told The Record last week that border protection is necessary. He told The Record last week that while “it would be foolish to just let everyone in”, he added that the Australian Government needs to work more seriously with countries like Indonesia to stop people smugglers before they leave their shores.
He said the boatpeople issue – which is putting mounting pressure on the government with 25 boats arriving this year alone and hundreds more expected this week – is “more fundamental” than turning boats back, which he said is “a last resort”.
“We need to get away from name throwing and pointing fingers, saying it’s this or that government’s fault,” he said. “The fact is we’re in this situation, and I’m sure the government is evaluating this over time. From our part, it would be foolish to say open the borders to anyone, there must be screening and everything. But it should start before that, and I would hope and pray the Indonesian and Australian governments are seriously look at what’s happening.
“Australia needs to undertake some serious dialogue between countries and identify where they’re coming onto the boats from – they’d know where people are congregating – to find out how to eradicate this kind of exploitation by certain people on others.”
Bishop Grech, who was born in Malta before arriving in Australia in 1971 to complete his seminary studies at Melbourne’s Corpus Christi College, urged government officials to visit Christmas Island to know what the asylum seekers are going through.
“You can’t let everybody in obviously, there has to be some sort border protection. I don’t think people like to leave their country but they often feel they are forced to. But once they’re here, we can’t treat people like that. Once they are classified as refugees then we have to protect them.”
The influx of boat people this year has led to the Australian Bishops to reassess the chaplaincy situation on the Island. Previously, a chaplain would travel to Christmas Island to celebrate Mass at Christmas and Easter, but he said people have a right to regular sacraments.
The Bishops’ Office for Migration and Refugees in Canberra and the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia has organised a roster of priests with Archbishop Barry HIckey for the Island, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Perth.
The Christmas Island population is about 3000, Bishop Grech said, including the locals. There are only 151 spare beds for a facility designed for 800 but now accommodates 2042. This year 1121 asylum seekers have arrived.
Numbers of Catholic asylum seekers are difficult to ascertain. Two Masses are held each Sunday – one at the community centre is regularly attended by about 140 people, which will increase, he said, as it becomes more popular – and another at the detention centre draws about 35 worshippers. Christmas Island’s Catholic community also provides pastoral support. Perth’s former vocations director, Philippine-born Fr Armando Carandang, was based there from 14 December to 20 January, and Marist Father Jim Carter has been there since. He will be replaced by a Jesuit priest yet to be named after Easter.
Bishop Grech said chaplaincy on the Island takes patience and perseverance.