Clive Bibby: Don’t be afraid to put your hand up

The one thing that helps nations overcome times of real uncertainty and threat to a way of life is the moment when all citizens over the legal age of majority realise that they have a part to play in how we collectively solve the problems we face. 

These times are almost always when the nation’s survival is under economic, pandemic or military threats from a source beyond our borders.

While our isolation as an island nation surrounded by water is often regarded as a plus when organising a defence, the modern world has shrunk to such an extent that we must look within our borders and at our own human resources when planning a reaction - sort of like “Dad’s Army” with a scorpion sting.

In reality, on our own, in pure military capability parlance, we are defenceless yet the success or otherwise of our response to these international threats will be determined more than anything by our individual responses to a call to arms.

Historically, this is where our true character as a nation of immigrants who have built a democratic society second to none becomes our greatest strength.

Contrary to local activist interpretation of the multi cultural contribution to the Nation’s development, we are regarded internationally as a blueprint for those seeking solutions to their own race related problems.

Ironically, compared to virtually all other democracies, we have managed our immigration policies better than most and it shows when viewed against those much larger resource rich countries where the problems remain unresolved.

In comparison, that has always been our greatest strength when called upon to contribute troops to campaigns involving Alliances of the Willing - our reputation as a reliable, capable multi cultural division of soldiers that punches above our weight is the sort of mix that will inevitably lead to victory on the battlefield.

But our way of doing things and influence on the world stage, although providing us opportunities with and access to the leaders of much larger countries, has always been based on our individual willingness to put our hand up when the call to action is made.

And given the current international turmoil that is the result of failed immigration policies, we should be constantly reminded of our own person responsibilities for the laws that govern entry to this special place.

Because, if we become complacent and drop our guard, foreign elements that would do us harm are ready to take advantage of lax or poorly drafted legislation and would overwhelm any attempt to shut the door after the horse has bolted.

Permanent residence in this country is a privilege granted to a select few who were not born here but offer skills that the economy needs.

However, my experience of current immigration policy is that it requires fine tuning at the border.

At the moment we seem unwilling to impose conditions of entry on those seeking permanent residency - conditions that would, with a stroke of a pen, solve most of our education and health care staffing shortages in rural communities throughout the country.

We should be bonding immigrant healthcare workers and teachers for a couple of years and requiring them, for the period of their bond, to work at least a 40 hour week in some of the more remote parts of the country.

Given the thousands of skilled foreigners waiting desperately to gain entry to this Country, l have no doubt applicants would consider such conditions a very small price to pay in order to gain permanent residency.

Yet the Teacher and Health Care workers Union appear, for reasons known only to themselves and the Labour Party, to be totally opposed to this sort of legislation.

So, this is where our individual responsibilities come in .

We must collectively oppose this blackmail and the way to do it is at the ballot box in November.

My guess is that any political party advocating immigration law with the above conditions of entry, would win the election relatively easily.

And such a result would show just how important our individual vote really is.

Let’s do it.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.