Yes,there is a way to deal with "asylum seekers" in a non-discrimitory and humane way.That is to deport all illegal immigrants to their country of origin immediately on arrival in Australia.In very short order that will destroy any expectation in nations which want to export their surplus population that Australia is a convenient dumping ground.To these nations and their people I would say - You broke it,you fix it,in house

Australia is already overpopulated and so is the world.The era of mass emigration is finished - get used to it.

and there is.. a very different way.. which is beginning to show up.

The Taliban stopped Opium production by holding the village elders accountable.

Australia must hold the CREW of any ship ABSOLUTELY accountable, and

-Incarcerate them for LONG sentences.
-Publicize this fact far and wide among Indonesians.
-Destroy the boats. (if any arrive)

Over time...this should deal with the problem.

The other upside of this approach is surprisingly simple.

If...the crew claim they were 'forced' to come... it makes the country shoppers PIRATES in the true sense of the word... and thus excempt from the protection of the UN Convention on refugees.
It also makes Australia exempt from any obligations under international law.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

Thats actually a good idea Al. Although the crew would have to do more than "claim" they were hijacked. Dont we already lock up illegal fishermen from Indonesia and burn their boats? Im suprised if this isnt also happening to people smugglers and their boats.

I am under the belief we already jail these people. Did not the Western Australian Premier say that he would not take anymore, as they were taking up too much space in his jails. Problem with this debate, is the lack of facts given in arguments.

mikk and flo..yep.. that was the thrust of my point.. 'beginning' to...

Hey Mikk.. glad to see we can agree on something :) don't be too harsh on me over other issues.. I'm pretty warm in person ...

Two items of news over the week end,

Another 12 asylum seekers drowned very recently, and the flow of asylum seekers has dropped by 25% following the suspension of processing.

The obvious lessons is that people smuggling is vile, and that a harder line does work.

While there is no desire to punish the asylum seekers, there needs to be a deterrent to this odious trafficking. This needs to consist of making it difficult to gain residence this way, jail the smugglers for long stretches and pursue their masters overseas.