Attitudes+1976+-+1980

-The Age in 1977 stated "while Australia can afford to be generous, it cannot be expected to play host to every unscheduled refugee"

-Fraser Goverment (Liberal) released Green Paper on Immigration Policies which reasserted national control and presented a policy that balanced an ongoing commitment to accept refugees. Goverment continued to accept the refugees on our shores.

-57% (July- Canberra Times Poll) were aganist allowing Vietnamese boat people

-Numbers of 'boat people' were greatly exaggerated in people's minds and public attitudes were less welcoming

-Journalists and voluntary agencies called for more generous acceptance of Vietnamese refugees

-60% of Australains in late 1977 only wanted to accept a limited number of 'boat people'

-1978 dramatic increase of refugee numbers

-Labor Spokeperson for Immigration amd Ethnic Affairs argued that Australia should turn away the boats because these were not genuine political refugees and there were real problems with health and quarantine.