Yeah well, some people don't need to be dog-whistled - besides which, they'd never vote for Labor anyway. I really hope this cynical strategy backfires on Gillard.

spindoc, as I've said, there's absolutely nothing to stop the Australian government increasing its self-imposed quota and admitting many more refugees.

Oh, of course there's the xenophobic "sick puppies" like you who are still too unfortunately numerous in the electorate and would punish them for it. Please don't try and pretend that you're motivated by the interests of offshore refugees.

Boaz - yes, Greens policy is to promote peace and non-violence. On reflection, I would more likely just walk away, as one does when one encounters a raving lunatic on the street. My apologies if I frightened you :)

Now, now CJ.

The ALP says no more PC, no more calling people xenophobic or racists because they don’t agree with you. No more insisting that others share your advocacy; the ALP insists we now have a right to our views and concerns. The ALP also says that John Howard was not a racist for Liberal Party policy on refugees.

You really do need to keep up to date on these issues. I know, I know, ideology is such a bitch to move forward.

You still didn’t tell us if you can afford to be one of these boatpeople, you didn’t explain the contradiction between encouraging wealthy boatpeople and leaving the poor ones in camps?

Or is you answer to have more poor ones approved as compensation for advocate hypocrisy?

It does not really matter what anyone on here or in parliament or in
government says the whole situation will change in a very few years.
There will be significant changes in food supply around the world and
this alone will cause, initially at least, an upsurge in migration.

What we must decide now is what we will do when the numbers escalate
into the tens or hundreds of thousands.
We are importing significant amounts of food now !
What will happen when that imported food is not available ?
Increasing costs of food, due largely to increasing fuel costs, will
make this country very difficult for many of us that are here now.
How would many hundreds of thousands extra cope especially when most
would be almost penniless.

Then on top of all that there is the problem of water.
Sure there has been some breaking of the drought in places but what
about the next drought or the one after that.

There is only one solution, as brutal as it is, but the people should
stay where they are and adjust their population to suit the carrying
capacity of their own countries.
Ultimately it is the only real solution.

As the food shortage bights into the populations of all countries
immigration will fall to very low numbers. Migration that remains
will be restricted to walking.

Surely what is needed right now is a decision on what our carrying
capacity is and a resolution to enforce it.

11.15 am Central Standard Time, and Gillard is just talking about her new illegal boat policy.

On the other hand, Abbott had his policy out bright and early with the roosters. It contains an automatic rebuff to illegals arriving without documents, and an increase of 10% in legitimate refugees from offshore locations – where people have been waiting patiently rather than jumping the queue.

Gillard might be leader of the government, but Abbott is the leader in policy and rapid response to electorate demand.

<< Sure there should be a debate in which issues surrounding asylum seekers, refugees, visa overstayers and 'skilled' immigration are discussed honestly for a change. >>

Yes CJ, which is exactly what Gillard is calling for. So why on earth are you criticising her and branding her a dog-whistler??

This ridiculous dog-whistle slur is fully as bad as any racial slur. It is just ENTIRELY inappropriate. The debate needs to be free of ALL this sort of thing.

I think that Hanson-Young's dog-whistle reference is not going to do her nor the Greens any good at all. I see here immediately as being strongly unbalanced and not open to reasonable debate. You are giving me the same impression Ceej.

Bugger!

That should have read:

I see HER immediately as being strongly unbalanced and not open to reasonable debate.