The ABC is reporting Mike Baird's Australia Day speech

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird says Australia has reached a fork in the road in its refugee policy and will be denying its history if it closes the door on new arrivals.

In an Australia Day address given on Friday, Mr Baird warned of the dangers of what he called anti-immigration politics in Australia........ 

He said the country owed much of its success to migrants, and he feared what would happen if refugees were turned away.

"We are one of he most successful and multicultural nations in the world," Mr Baird said.

"But I believe we are potentially at risk of losing what makes Australia the best place in the world to live, because some want to shut our doors and avert their eyes."

In his speech, Mr Baird spoke of Deng Thiak Adut, a former child soldier in Sudan who is now a refugee lawyer in Australia, who this week spoke at an event in the lead-up to Australia Day.

"What an amazing country we are part of," he said.

"Because we welcomed Deng, we sheltered him, we gave him clothes, food and a chance to learn, and he seized that opportunity, and now he is working in his community giving back to those who, like him, once had no voice."

The Premier said Australia owed a large part of its character to the success of people like Mr Adut.

"And to our kindness, compassion in sharing our luck and giving them a chance," he said.

"Deng is what happens when generosity meets opportunity."

So is this.

I'm sure Michael Baird means well, but he is a bloody idiot.   

Mr Baird warned of the dangers of what he called anti-immigration politics in Australia.....

What anti-immigration politics?   From whom?  In Australia?  There is no credible political force arising in Australia on an anti-immigration platform.  And for the groups that form on the fringes, do you really want to telegraph the government's intention to respond and engage in dialogue?

We have a relatively successful immigration program because we manage it.  Mike Baird says:

he feared what would happen if refugees were turned away.

We know what will happen because it's been happening for decades.   We have fewer refugee places than applicants.  What happens Mike is that Australia has the benefits of a managed migration scheme with public support and a humanitarian scheme that's as generous as we can manage.  Why do you want to invite the usual suspects to get stuck into an argument that wouldn't be stirring up people if not for you and your Australia Day Address?

Premier Baird, you're inviting all sort of comparisons by raising a single case study of an apparently successful well integrated young man.   Last year 1.1 million persons of unknown background invaded Europe.   This girl can tell you about at least 1,000 of them.

Here are Australia's immigration statistics Mr Baird, doesn't look like it's coming to a crashing anti-immigration halt.

The source countries.

You'll note that we find negligible numbers of skilled migrants who can meet the needs of our economy from the Middle East.  There are two major streams of migration into Australia - the migration program above, and the humanitarian program:

Demand always exceeds the number of places in our humanitarian visa program.

During the Rudd/Gillard years we couldn't offer places to the most needy, nor could we properly screen the self-selectors.  Because of  the Rudd/Gillard open borders policy more dubious claimants could select themselves for a share of "our luck". In light of Europe, do you want to go back to this?

Our problem has been fixed and is under control.   There is no push to lower immigration numbers.  So who is Mr Baird using the focus and emotion of Australia Day to fight against?   

During times of tension like now, when we can see the results of uncontrolled immigration in Europe, we need leaders who can reassure us that they understand the risks in immigration, that they've learned from Europe, that Rudd and Gillard's mistakes are a thing of the past and that it won't happen again.   Then shut up and get on with it.

Baird's moral vanity in lecturing resident hard-working Australians about "sharing our luck" is every bit as likely to inflame emotions as the imagined "anti-immigration politics" he's shadow-boxing with.

Give us controlled immigration.  Filter out and deport those of poor character who are unlikely - in our judgement - to assimilate.  That would include anyone who won't publicly renounce Islamism.   And most of all, manage the processes tightly so that when incidents of criminal behaviour or conduct evincing poor character from non-residents are detected, the deportations are swift and the processes biased towards our protection.

Otherwise Mike, you've no place leading and protecting us.   Go and work for the Red Cross.

PS - Mike you're a father.   I know you wouldn't let people you don't know have free access to your home.  You have to put your family first.   It's like that when you're the boss of a state.   We expect you to put us first.

Just like this little girl who grew up in a community.   She felt safe in that community.   She knew its norms and routines and was protected by its laws.

Let her words into your heart mate.

 "I only want to end with one message: Men, please, help your women. Help your children. I am so scared. My friends have the same fear. We are shocked that this has happened. I hope this video can convince you, and that this terrible events can stop."

TRANSCRIPT:
Hello, you can read the newspapers but this video is about the real situation in Germany. I would like to tell everyone about this on Youtube and Facebook. I am almost 16. I would like everyone to know what is going on, what I am authentically feeling at this moment.

And I am so scared everywhere. For example, if my family and I go out together, or if I see a movie with my friends. Usually I stay at home, but sometimes I stay out until 6 pm in winter, and it is so scary. It is just very hard to live day-to-day life as a woman.

I just want to say that I am not a racist. But one day, a terrible thing happened at the supermarket. I ran all the way home. I was so frightened for my life. There’s no other way to describe it.

My aunt and her friend have said you have to grow up. Why should we, children, have to grow up in such fear? It’s not just me, my friends too. You can see on Facebook, a 17 year old attacked, a 15 year old attacked, two 12-year olds attacked, so many. It is really so sad that this is happening … because of YOU PEOPLE. :(

I cannot understand why they do this. But more importantly, I cannot understand why Germany is doing nothing! Why is Germany standing by, watching, and then doing nothing? Please explain, why. Men of Germany, these people are killing your children, they are killing your women. We need your protection. We are so scared, we don’t want to be frightened to go to the grocery store alone after sunset. The politicians live alone in their villas, drink their cocktails, and do nothing. They do nothing! I do not know what world they live in, but please, people, please help us! Please, do something! I cannot understand why this is happening. One day, my friend and I were walking down the street, and a group of Arabs were protesting and demonstrating. They shouted, “Allah! Allah! Allah is the one God! Kill those infidels! Allah Allah!” What should I do? Should I wear a burka? Why should I have to convert to Islam?

It’s fine if you believe in Allah, but why do you want to make everyone else believe in Allah too? I just think it would be better if there were no religion. Stop trying to make everyone else believe in your God when they do not want to.

Please, people of Germany. Do something!

When I try to tell the authorities about what has happened, they hold their hand up towards me and they say it is a problem and then ignore it. and they laugh. It is unfair. They laugh at us. They say we are dumb. They think this not only of me, but of the entire state of Germany. They don’t care about our fear. Please help us. This is an emergency! There are more and more of them.

One time in summer, the Muslims said we were sluts for walking outside in a t-shirt.

Yes, we were wearing t-shirts. It’s summer!

Another day, I was wearing this. My friend and I purchased it while shopping hehe. If we feel like wearing it, we will wear it! And you Muslims have no right to physically assault or rape us for it! God willing, never in my life. You have no right to attack us because we are wearing t-shirts. You also have no right to rape.

The life of Germany has changed because these people cannot integrate. We give them so much help. We support them financially and they do not have to work. But they only want more babies and more welfare and more money. Men of Germany, please, patrol the streets and protect us. Do this for your women and your children. If you do that, I believe that we will have a chance.

This sort of action would be wonderful. We would be so grateful and thankful. So many thanks, if steadily, more men would come to protect us. We are so scared.

I am so upset about what Merkel has done.

Thank you, Angela Merkel, for killing Germany! I have no more respect for you, Merkel. I do not think you know what you have done. You do not see how our lives have changed. Open your eyes! Is this normal? Should I, a 16-year old who is almost 17, be so scared to walk outside my house? No, it is not normal. You have killed Germany!

This is the truth. We are no longer allowed to walk outside. We are no longer allowed to wear our clothes. We are no longer allowed to live the German life. This is the sad truth.

I think it’s about time to end this video. I believe I have given a full account from a normal person. I hope others can see this and understand.

I only want to end with one message: Men, please, help your women. Help your children. I am so scared. My friends have the same fear. We are shocked that this has happened. I hope this video can convince you, and that this terrible events can stop.