Susan,
<<I just wish some of the strong energy that some people have that is used with such negativity could be channelled into creating positive things for this country.>>
What you perceive as negativity is, in fact, the positive desire not to "create negative things for this country".
Shouldn't we learn from history?
Shouldn't we learn from what is happening in Europe -

"some cultures fit better into Western societies than others. All of Europe is currently struggling to integrate Muslims but this endeavor seems to be impossible. According to the Danish police and the Danish Bureau of Statistics more than 70 percent of all crimes in the Danish capital are committed by Muslims. Our national bank recently published a report stating that a Muslim foreigner costs more than 2 million Danish kroner (300,000 euros) in federal social assistance on average, caused by the low participation in the work force. On top of this, we have to add many additional types of social welfare that unemployed people can receive in our country: expenses in connection with interpreters, special classes in school – 64 percent of school children with Muslim parents cannot read and write Danish properly after 10 years in a Danish school – social work, extra police etc."
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=36a_1270930892

To learn from others mistakes is a positive thing, not a negative thing.

I should clarify that, whereas the above quote relates to Muslims in Europe, the principle also holds true in Australia where we have our own problems integrating those members of evangelical churches of the religious right, as previously stated.

We CAN learn from history.
We CAN learn from the European experience.
We don't need to create problems for future generations of Australians.
We just need to remove our ideological blinkers.

We need to be reminded again that if all these asylum seekers were really seeking asylum as they claim then they shouldnt have to sail around the world picking and choosing a land of their preference. The Afghanis have come through Malaysia and Indonesia,both culturally closer to them than a non-Muslim country like Australia. Why have they rejected those possible asylums? No CentreLink and social benefits?
Neither Malaysia nor Indonesia will have thoise whoarent prepared to work which is why they arent offering anyone social benefits.Everyone has to work there.
What does it say about all those wealthy Islamic states that have significantly remained tight-lipped and silent about caring for their brothers? How have Palestinian refugees been treated in neighbouring Islamic states? How have these refugees behaved in Jordan when they were offered asylum many years ago? They very nearly overthrew the government in a coup that was thwarted by Hashemite horsemen who rode in from the dersert to protect their King.

we certainly have a huge problem on our hands now.
There are over 20,000 of them in Indonesia waiting to get in. Australistan is their preferred destination.
Oh wll.Roll out the red carpet.

Socratease,
You ask:
"The Afghanis have come through Malaysia and Indonesia,both culturally closer to them than a non-Muslim country like Australia. Why have they rejected those possible asylums? No CentreLink and social benefits?"
The answer is in Frank Brennan's article:
"to be rightly characterised as an adequate country for asylum, proven refugees need also to be extended the usual rights of refugees, including work, health, education and social welfare."
Apparently, according to Brennan, people fleeing any country in the world, have the same entitlements as Australian citizens and no less will suffice.
Furthermore, you're a racist if you don't agree.
Clearly, he is stating that Malaysia and Indonesia are inadequate countries for asylum.
Describing our nearest neighbours as inadequate is demeaning and provocative.
This sounds very much like a racial slur to me.
I hope he will apologise to these countries.
Or maybe they're just happy to pass the buck?

Do you find that dishonesty helps with your arguments Proxy? I guess in the absence of reason you'll have to mae do with stretching the truth. Indonesia and Malaysia won't let the asylum seekers work, buy property or have any type of citizen status. Neither country is a signatory to the Refugee Convention. Acknowledging that Poxy isn't provocative or 'racist' its just telling the truth.

I think we'd be better off with more refugees and less people like you. At least we can believe what they say.

I like the Philippines principle of reciprocity. It seems very fair to consider that applications by foreigners to live, work and do business in the Philippines are the same for Filipinos deciding the same for themselves in other countries.

That was a great quote from the Fitzgerald report, Susan M. I don't think much has changed since 1988, except for the rise of Islamophobia. As we see in some of the more execrable comments here, fear and loathing of Islam provides a good cover for good old fashioned Aussie racism. Mind you, it doesn't explain the disdain for Tamil refugees.

jjplug - KMB/HermanYutic/Poxy is just the latest sock puppet of a longtime OLO troll. I choose not to feed it ;)