Posted in: Comics | Tagged: asylum, australia, Boats, Comics, politics

Australian Government Uses Comic Books To Stop Asylum Seekers

This comes to us from News.com.au as the Australian Federal Government is using comic books to try and stop Afghans from trying to enter Australia illegally by way of boats. The campaign was started under the previous Rudd government but continues under the current Abbott government.

Written in the dominant Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto the book tells the story of a young man trying to get to Australia. He lives in squalor but raise enough money to pay for transit by working as a mechanic. He travels to another country by bus then by plane until finally he gets on a very crowded boat. The weather turns bad and they have to be rescued by the Australian Navy. He is then sent to a detention camp and awaits deportation. The last page is a stark warning:  "If you go to Australia without a visa on a boat, you won't be settled in Australia".

The government has done similar ad campaigns in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Indonesia using TV, radio and press advertising.

The comic book campaign has received negative responses from both refugee advocates and comic creators.

Tony Abbott's propaganda shames us and makes a mockery of our signature on human rights and refugee treaties.http://t.co/bu1ot99bNr

— Christine Milne (@senatormilne) February 11, 2014

Honestly whoever drew that customs comic needs to take a good long look at him or herself. They cannot be in my gang.

— Jon Kudelka (@jonkudelka) February 11, 2014

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