The Sydney Morning Herald
Only let in white farmers: Lightfoot
Date: 27/04/00
By ANDREW CLENNELL
The Federal politician who first suggested white Zimbabwean farmers
should be allowed to seek refuge in Australia says he does not
believe the same rights should be accorded to black people in trouble in
that country.
The controversial West Australian Liberal Senator Ross Lightfoot told
the Herald yesterday that whites should have preferences over
black people in difficult situations to get safe haven or be allowed to
migrate here - because the blacks "don't qualify under my terms of
compatibility".
"We're looking at a minuscule amount of people being discriminated
against because of their race," he said.
His comments came as the office of the Minister for Immigration, Mr
Ruddock, sought to play down the possibility that white
Zimbabwean farmers might be allowed here under the safe haven
legislation under which Kosovars and East Timorese came last year.
"There's no evidence to suggest Zimbabwe is anywhere near the situation
which would call for an international humanitarian response ...
so that safe havens ought to be offered," a spokeswoman for Mr Ruddock
said.
She said the situation would have to deteriorate to a level similar to
that of "East Timor and Kosovo".
"Yes, I wouldn't like to be there, but [the farmers] can go into the
cities [in Zimbabwe] and be safe," the spokeswoman said.
Senator Lightfoot first made his comments that Zimbabwean farmers should
be allowed here in the Senate more than a fortnight ago.
When the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, was asked on Friday about the
possibility of using the safe haven legislation for the farmers, he
said it was something that may be considered.
Mr Ruddock said earlier this week that a "watching brief" would be kept
on the situation.
Mr Ruddock's spokeswoman said last night that she would not comment on
Senator Lightfoot's most recent "bizarre comments" but said
black people would be considered, along with whites, if a safe haven was
to be set up here.
Senator Lightfoot said he understood Britain was prepared to take 20,000
of the Zimbabwean farmers and said: "Surely we could take
the same amount."
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