Tampa

This cartoon by Greg Smith ran in the Wanneroo Times four days after the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa rescued 433 Afghan asylum seekers under the direction of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The Australian Government refused to allow the ship to enter Australia’s territorial waters. On 29 August 2001 Tampa crossed the maritime border in an attempt to land at Christmas Island. The government despatched SAS troops to board the ship.

In his response to Smith’s cartoon, Behrouz Boochani shares his perspective on the impact the Tampa affair had on Australian politics:

This work is historically significant because it refers to the Tampa affair … This was a historic moment because it has had an effect on the political culture in the country for two decades. It was a big political shift, and since that time refugees have become a part of federal election campaigns. Successive governments have used national security excuses to manipulate people, but, more importantly, they have created a ‘border’ industry and an ‘exile’ policy. Refugees have become the victim of this political culture, they have become dehumanised and damaged mentally and physically, and thousands of people have endured indefinite detention for years.