We're not a racist town, local says

22 Oct 2010, 4:54 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Figures from the Adelaide Hills Council show that in 2006, the town of Woodside had just 11 overseas visitors, as locals voice their opposition to hosting 400 Afghan asylum seekers.

The Adelaide Hills town of Woodside had just 11 overseas visitors in 2006, according to official council figures.

Now the townsfolk are about to play host to 400 mostly Afghan asylum seekers.

And they're angry about it.

But the woman who organised a community meeting to voice concern about federal government plans to move the asylum seekers into her town insists the people of Woodside are not racist.

The meeting on Thursday turned ugly with some in the crowd shouting anti-Muslim slogans as an Immigration Department official fielded questions about plans to transfer the families with their children to Woodside.

Up to 500 mostly angry locals crowded into the meeting hall which became so full that some had to stand outside.

The police were on hand in case the situation got out of hand.

While refugee advocates handed out leaflets at the entrance to the hall, many among the crowd vocally opposed the plan.

But the meeting organiser, Briohny Pitts, denied the townspeople were racist.

She said most were angry because the government did not consult them before making the announcement this week.

"There would certainly be people that feel that way and everyone is entitled to their opinion," she told ABC Television on Friday.

"I think, in general, the town is not upset about who is coming. We're upset that the federal government has decided that 400 people will be moved to Inverbrackie.

"They sprung it on us, backed it up with no information and still can't provide answers to our legitimate questions. That's what people are angry about."

The town, about 38km southeast of Adelaide, is set to host 400 asylum seekers after the federal government on Monday announced a major shift in its mandatory detention policy.

The first group is expected to arrive in December once security and fencing issues at the facility have been addressed.

Federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs, whose electorate of Mayo includes Woodside, said the coalition would seek the support of independents to stop the plan.

He also rejected suggestions the feelings expressed at the meeting amounted to racism.

"There will be some who will allege this is all about a bunch of rednecks who are arguing against these asylum seekers and that is just not true," he said.

But, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was concerned by the reaction of some people in the crowd.

"I must admit the footage and the audio that I heard from the meeting last night in the Adelaide Hills really upset me," the South Australian senator said.

She agreed that more consultation was needed and urged people not to "dehumanise" the families.

"It's pretty hard for anyone to look a five-year-old in the eye and say that somehow you must be afraid of them," she said.

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Your Comments

Hold your ground ....

Kevin - from Sydney, 2 years ago

We all know the 'RACIST' card is the thing the refugee advocates can come up with in the absence of any reasonable argument in support of their position. I hope people who's communities are affected by the dumping of Asylum seekers keep up the RAGE. If you're racist the advocates are RATBAGS !

REDNECKS

STEVE - from HUNTER, 2 years ago

Federal Liberal MP Jamie Briggs..There will be some who will allege this is all about a bunch of rednecks who are arguing against these asylum seekers. YOU SAID IT.............................

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