I WOULD take Frederika E. Steen's response (Letters, Dec 31) to my letter more seriously if I was aware of a Syrian -refugee resettlement program in her suburb of Chapel Hill. 
But we both know this will never happen.
Yes, some refugees become achieving citizens. The first Syrian family to be accepted has 10 children and will live somewhere in regional Australia, as will, reportedly, the other several thousand. They will all be receiving various welfare packages for years.
As far as Bob Hawke is -concerned, he is like many of his predecessors, full of post-PM wisdom and sour grapes.
I have never seen him visiting any refugee camp, indigenous community or nuclear waste facility.Peter Corran, Manly West