It's an official statement by a UN agency, not a couple of guys posting on a forum.
Of course, they will be careful with the wording, but the fact that they raised the issue of legality in the first place is significant. In diplomatic speak, that's a very strong statement, given the fact that the UNHCR knows that joining the is voluntary.
That's a non sequitur to this debate. The topic here isn't how the government acts in the absence of media hysteria, but how it acts in the face of it.
The Australian government makes a million decisions which don't make it to the media. So what?
The media was irrelevant in that case.
Did his case balloon into an election campaign issue?
Did one party make it a centerpiece of their election campaign, as the Liberals did in a shameless orgy of raw xenophobia, with "STOP THE BOATS" almost becoming their election slogan?
First, a statement is just a statement, even in the eyes of the UN.
If the UNHCR have enough knowledge and support system, they will not publish a statement stating the act may breach, but they will publish a statement blaming and shaming the decision of Australian Government.
UN is not China, they don't get pay by issuing warning, when UN have something to say, they will say it. The fact they themselves is not sure that leads to the unclear comment.
The example I quote is another issue, the government would not swing where the media want them to swing, infact, it's the media job to put incident on the table. Unlike china, where the outlet only have one direction, you cannot escape where that going
In Australia, we have multiple voice and if you had watch a Simpson that's about Monty Burns trying to buy off all the media outlet, it's impossible to do so...
You keep saying media outlet manipulate the government decision, then if so, then they will not swing voting issue, but they will create voting issue...
You are right about one thing, no media is innocent, they all take a side, but it's viewer (government included) to balance the voice. The fact is, you believe the media is manipulating the government is also one of the media manipulation.
And I think you are over zealous with the issue and you already have your view for this government, while I have mind.
Lol, but remember, it's not because the majority don't know your version of truth so the current government is elected, but people simply don't think your concern is a problem, so Tony Abbott is elected.
I am not going to pretent there are no discrimination in this country, but you seems to see it every so often. Sometime, how it handle is just how it handle, it have nothing about race or religion to it