Director Judy Rymer
Staring Julian Burnside
Score 6/6
Review by Tantelize Websdale
Border Politics follows human rights barrister Julian Burnside as he traverses the globe examining the harsh treatment of refugees metered out by most Western democracies. Seventy years after the world constructed international conventions to ensure the horrors of World War II wouldn’t be repeated, Burnside finds it terrifying to see many western political leaders exploiting fears around border protection to extend political power. He questions whether the West has lost its moral compass adopting ideas that reject humanity and undermine democracy. He concludes this erosion of human rights poses a threat to the very democratic values that define Western society.
Firstly, let me start by thanking the Movie Boards for inviting me to review Boarder Politics before it is released to the public.
Rymer Childs is an independent producer of documentaries. It has produced films for ABC, SBS, Channel 9, BBC Discovery Asia, and Discovery America. Some of its past documentaries include: I Will Not Be Silenced; Risking Our Kids; Frank and Daz Take on The World; Season 1 Episode 4 Who do You Think You Are? Featuring Geoffrey Robertson.
Interestingly also another documentary on Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policy in 2004 -Punished Not Protected. Border Politics is a documentary that makes some very strong claims about the political motivations behind our government’s treatment of refugees in Australia. The show is presented by Julian Burnside, an Australian barrister based in Melbourne. Burnside accuses Australian politicians of using a tactic of fear to gain votes. He examines the treatment of refugees internationally. Burnside interviews a journalist, human rights advocates and a trauma psychologist. Accusations of lying by politicians are made and excerpts of Peter Reith stating “an absolute fact children were thrown overboard ” Phillip Ruddock saying “Children Were thrown overboard” and John Howard stating” “I don’t want people in Australia who would throw their children into the sea” are cut into the narrative All in relation to the Tampa when false statements were made accusing refugees of throwing children into the sea to be rescued.
In the examination of how refugees are treated internationally, focus is put on the difference between Scotland that recognise a humanitarian crisis in the flow of asylum seekers in particular from Syria, and the divisiveness of the U.K. France is visited were we see how the government has responded to the wretchedness of homeless destitute refugees by clearing out camps, razor wire fences at Calais , and even placing boulders under bridges to prevent camping. Other countries include Germany, where for quite a while refugees were welcomed. Also shown are the countries on the borders who take on the greatest numbers of refugees and the impact of other countries blocking their flow through. They take on the huge burden with limited resources. Touching was the incredible kindness shown on the island Lesbos in Greece that dealt with boatloads arriving daily. The stark difference in those countries that welcomed refugees was that they recognised the humanity of those seeking asylum and fleeing war. There was no fear or blame.
The film is quite clear from the beginning on the harsh treatment Australia gives to refugees. The trauma psychologist describes the conditions and treatment in our offshore detention centres as deliberate torture. Burnside reminds the audience Australia is breaching the Convention on The Rights of The Child, the Rights Against Torture, against the Declaration Of Human Rights, breaching the a International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights, as well as breaching the Refugees Convention. Interestingly, it is revealed that Australia has no Bill of Rights of its own. We have no basic minimum standards of treatment of people. Australia is portrayed as having one of the most extreme responses to refugees of all the democratic countries in the World. I found it interesting to see some of the international responses to the refugee crisis the World is now facing. The film doesn’t offer solutions to the fear mongering our government is accused of pandering to. What does stand out is the reaction is very different and more humane when people come face to face with those forced to flee war torn countries. This isn’t something we get to do here in Australia with the practice of keeping refugees isolated and offshore.
A difference that isn’t touched on in the film. What I got to view was not the completed documentary. There are final scenes to come and there was sound missing from an interview on the Mexican / US Border. 6/6 stars powerful and controversial.