Yet again we see an article that just completely ignores the fact that mandatory detention is a necessary as part of the deterrence factor, and that if we have no mandatory detention and allow all asylum seekers to move freely in society straight away, it would create a huge additional pull factor.

This would just keep the simmering social tension caused by onshore asylum seeking happening in an ongoing manner and at a greater rate of arrivals than at present.

It would cause conflict between Australian people and its government, it would necessitate many millions of dollars of tax-payers’ money being spent on this when it should be spent on all manner of things to improve the quality of life for Australian citizens.

And it would cause thousands of people to be subjected to the vagaries of people-smugglers and very dangerous open-ocean trips on rickety boats.

Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM is Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.

Well, how does all this sit with peace and conflict in Australia??

A no-detention regime is just not on.

For children, sure in some if not all instances, get them out of detention. But otherwise, we really do need to move back to a full mandatory detention regime, including Nauru and Manus Island.

For Australia to be trying to work with Indonesia to reduce onshore asylum seeking while at the same time increasing one very significant pull factor by watering down mandatory detention is just totally contradictory and stupid!

Come-on, we should be making every effort to CLOSE DOWN onshore asylum seeking and be putting all of our efforts into assisting refugees through our offshore programs within the refugee category of our immigration program, and with increased and better-directed international aid.

Much more effort should be made to advertise the fact that if you come to Australia illegally then you will be in Detention for an indefinite period, maybe forever.

And so it should be. & in the words of the immortal, "This, I believe."

A better idea would be automatic & immediate repatriation, using as much force as necessary, to the point of embarkation.

Give me the old HMAS Kanimbla, & a contract for 20% of what we now spend on these invaders, & I'll get it done, no problem.

Just like that useless UN a talk fest has failed. Now is the time for action.

Hasbeen, are you looking for crew?

And the usual haters come out to play without thought.

We are talking about the illegal jailing of innocent children and still the thugs think that is great.

Sev is dead wrong though to link the ALP with the arrival of refugees because they tinkered with some of the worst of the so-called policy.

In 2009 a few minor things happened.
1. the killing fields of Sri Lanka with 40,000 civilians slaughtered, 300,000 jailed and 11,000 disappeared. Our only response was to help the navy stop anyone from leaving which is criminal and illegal.
2. a surge in sectarian violence against christians in Iraq sent thousands fleeing all over the world.
3. a rise and rise of the taliban in Afghanistan sent thousands of Afghans fleeing.
4. the illegal and bogus election in Iran with the mullahs rigging the vote and the jailing and torture of tens of thousands of dissenters.

Not a bit of it had anything to do with who the hell the PM of Australia was with less than 1% of all those fleeing for their lives getting here.

Mention asylum seekers and out come the Red Necks, oh to be whiter than white!!