<< Holding refugees in Nauru was designed as a punitive measure >>

No it wasn’t, Susan!

It was designed to strike a most difficult balance between duly processing asylum seekers’ claims while implementing a strong deterrence factor for further arrivals.

It was good for Nauruans, it resulted in the big majority of asylum seekers being accepted as refugees and it was an integral part of a policy that stopped the boats!

Of course it had its problems. What would you expect with such a horribly difficult issue? But all-told it was pretty damn good, compared to just about any other possible option.

You know perfectly well, although I’m sure you would never admit it, that if onshore asylum seekers in Howard’s era were treated in the manner that you would have wanted, the boats would have just kept coming and in much bigger numbers.

And you know that if that had happened, ten or a hundred or a thousand times more people would have been caught up in the messy situation, in which they would have been treated a whole lot less kindly.

<< Australia's involvement in implementing a future regional solution for refugees must focus on solutions for refugees who have little chance of ever finding a resettlement place. >>

Yes yes YES!! And of course we should be doing this through our international aid efforts, through the UN, and NOT via haphazard arrivals in our northern waters!

So Susan, why is it that so many refugee advocates seem to get totally hooked up on how onshore asylum seekers are treated instead of very loudly lobbying our government to increase our international aid and refugee effort?

Adovates for the 'illegals' continue to claim off shore processing of asylum seekers is inhumane. Yet Nauru was used as a stop gap measure until christmas island was established. After which Nauru was no longer required as the use of TPVs had stopped the boats from coming and Christmas Island was more than adequate.

It matters little where the illegals are processed,what stopped the boats was not giving permanent residency and that is what is needed now.

The boats have to be stopped from coming. It is far from humane to encourage people to come by boat when about 170 have lost their lives trying it on the last couple of years.

This government has created the current problem and should be held accountable for the deaths.

Yes we need to change the system. First - analyse what the boat people are trying to get. Presumably primarily Safety. Second would be access to a first world economy which can provide a good living and a chance to build capital. Often the second is more important than the first. They are prepared currently to flout the law by arriving without papes and they take considerable risks to succeed.

Australia needs these sorts of people particularly in Mining and Agriculture and 95% make very good citizens, but if we accept them without restrictions, the numbers will increase very considerably and why should they jump the queue unpenalized.

Possibly solution would be to give any refugee who arrives without papers a 5 year visa, provided they take a job and live only in designated areas. There should be no guarantee of visa extension and face immediate deportation should they contravene any law.

Would this be sufficient to restrict the flow

When will we ever get through to dills like this one that Oz governments are elected to do the right thing by Oz citizens, not boat people, or any others who want grate crash our boarders?

None of these people should be housed, or supported, until all home grown citizens are similarly housed, first.

Wouldn't it be nice if these bleeding hearts could get their priorities right. Don't ask these people what we can do for them, ask what they can do for us.

Post WW11 refugees were expected to work their way, as soon as they arrived, & were earning their keep within days of their arrival, why not these?

You would be a great consultant on stimulating the growth of the illegal immigrant industry, of which you seem to be an integral part.

If you were able to reverse your thinking, then with your knowledge you could be of value in the area where we desperately need help, thanks to our incumbent incompetents in Canberra, the stemming of the flow of these queue jumpers.

See what you can do, and get back to us.

With half of the Australian population in unstable housing and furthermore will never be able to have the means to do so. Now, one would think that the housing affordability should be the major focal point within the next election.

Why is it that this refuge matter is such a huge issue. I dare say that indeed it is a fact that we have many Australians unable to earn enough money to purchase a home for them selves. And I am not just talking about the mentally ill or drug induce people. I am including many others that have had their next egg evaporated before their very eyes.

Gosh we talk about human rights but some how we immediately think of those that are seemingly assalym seekers