Luke Henriques-Gomes’s grandfather was one of 44 refugees to arrive in 1975 on the only RAAF plane ever hijacked. The official response still staggers him
Let’s conduct a quick thought experiment: what would happen if one day, in the middle of a civil war on a small island unknown to most, a group of refugees forced themselves on to an air force plane and demanded to be taken to Australia?
To which far-flung detention centre would they be sent? How long would their jail sentences be? Or would they simply be sent back home – possibly to die?
Continue reading…Luke Henriques-Gomes’s grandfather was one of 44 refugees to arrive in 1975 on the only RAAF plane ever hijacked. The official response still staggers himLet’s conduct a quick thought experiment: what would happen if one day, in the middle of a civil war on a small island unknown to most, a group of refugees forced themselves on to an air force plane and demanded to be taken to Australia?To which far-flung detention centre would they be sent? How long would their jail sentences be? Or would they simply be sent back home – possibly to die? Continue reading…