Australia First party pushes for Sudanese population to return home

By Ben Glover
Updated November 7 2012 - 2:25pm, first published January 11 2011 - 9:32pm
TARGET: Wagga's Sudanese refugee advocate John Moi is refusing to be bullied into returning to his homeland after it was suggested by the Australia First Party that he should. Picture: Les Smith
TARGET: Wagga's Sudanese refugee advocate John Moi is refusing to be bullied into returning to his homeland after it was suggested by the Australia First Party that he should. Picture: Les Smith

ONE of Australia's most controversial political parties, Australia First (AFP), has targeted Wagga refugee advocate John Moi by encouraging the nation's population of southern Sudanese to return home.Civil war has raged in Sudan on and off for the best part of 40 years but with a referendum currently being held to decide whether South Sudan will gain independence from its northern oppressor, the long-lost ideals of peace and stability in the region are finally on the radar.Of the many southern Sudanese who have made their homes in Australia after fleeing their country, Mr Moi is one of 9300 registered to vote in the referendum.He has been vocal in his belief that Australia, where he has been a citizen since 2008, should "support the new-born country in its development", a view responded to by a blog headlined "Will John Moi Go Home?" in which the AFP encouraged him to go back and help the new country's development himself."Aid should be contingent on South Sudan taking these people and assistance should be provided to get these people home," the blog decrees."Yet, it is our strong suspicion that having tasted the benefits of free housing, cash gifts, welfare of all sorts, few of these people would be interested in a return to South Sudan."And we suspect that Mr Moi won't be leaving either."Rather than take offence to the view that his countrymen have been freeloading on the generosity of the Australian government since arriving, Mr Moi said the full spectrum of opinions to any given issue was what made Australia, and democracy, great.He said that having taken a vow to become an Australian citizen, it would not sit right with him to return straight away."Personally, I have thought about it," Mr Moi said."If the right time for me comes, definitely, I will tell the Australian government I want to return."I don't take my being (in Australia) for granted, it's something I treasure very much."I'd like to go (to South Sudan) to make my contribution but I think I will always come back - Australia is home."

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Wagga Wagga news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.