We need a regional solution that sees people processed in Indonesia, Malaysia and perhaps Thailand, the latter being a signatory to the human rights convention.
Most of the boat people have already found comparatively safe sanctuary in so-called transit countries.
While it can't be peasant eking out an existence in a refugee camp, it's probably better than the alternative.
And we are talking about ten million people!
We can't treat these people differently.
But rather, do what we can for as many as we can.
This may mean years spent waiting in camps, or going back home, once it's safe to do so?
Those that ignore their only legal options and chose instead the people smugglers route, unsafe boats, and arriving in our jurisdiction minus a visa and their identification papers.
[Papers which they need to transition through the so-called transition countries.] Shouldn't be then rewarded with preferential treatment!
Identification papers are the GENUINE asylum seekers most precious possession!
Those that have deliberately destroyed them ought to face automatic repatriation, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Others, sometimes third generation camp dwellers, wait for their turn in camps in Malaysia and Indonesia.
We simply cannot and should not contemplate/allow their legitimate places being effectively stolen by people, who simply won't wait their turn; and or, have the means to circumvent lawful arrival!
Sure, it's tough waiting for your legitimate turn in a refugee or interment camp.
And compared to places in Africa and or the middle east, which also house hundreds of thousands of children; Mannis Island and or Nauru, are paradises!
So let's stop falling for the blatant humbug, of some very cunning queue jumpers?
If they sew their lips up, burn their camps down, break our laws, etc etc, all they should ever win is indefinite interment followed by automatic repatriation, however long it takes.
Rhrosty.

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Our recycled PM, Kevin Rudd, was renown for being big on promises but short on delivery. He could not even keep his promises that he would never challenge Julia Gillard again, and that he would not support same-sex marriage.

As displayed since his return as PM, he is spinning and exaggerating better than ever.

Given his history of incompetence when it came to developing and implementing policy, one would have to be naive to seriously believe that Kevin 13 will improve on the Kevin 07 version in these areas.

As he is moving to reform Labor so as to give himself more power, we can no longer count on any men/women faceless or otherwise to sack him as PM should he win the election and resume his dysfunctional ways.

Marilyn Shepherd - To quote you "Another far right wing nut job allowed to spruik mass murder by the Australian government."

I see it differently, the author has used PROOF that what the Government representative are saying about the dire consequences of turning back boats etc is exactly what they themselves proposed some 6 years ago.

I commend the author for showing the hypocrisy of Rudd and Company.

Howard did not kill anyone THEY made the choice to get on boats, I say bad luck, my only sympathy goes to children forced on by there parents greed.

Maybe I'm a simpleton but can't the Government just write new immigration legislation that prohibits illegal arrivals from ever obtaining permanent residency? If the word was out that arriving by boat automatically disqualifies you from ever gaining access to Australia, wouldn't that be a huge disincentive to get on a boat?

sbr108 - I think the TPV was something like that, I also think one problem is once here they are our problem and no other country wants them so we are stuck with them.