"Could it be that he simply saw it as sensible to keep their faces out of the media so that the whole issue remained a little less emotive, without in any way wanting to make those people on the boats seem any less human or any less deserving of getting their claims properly processed? "

No, I really don't think that was his motive.

But you do grant me the point that seeing their faces would have been emotive.

Would the emotion aroused have been compassion or rage? Which one was Howard trying to avoid?

It's very hard to believe that he was trying to protect them from our anger.

My family came to this country as migrants in the late 1950's. I remember well the racist slogans that were written in the dust on our car. And we were "legal."

My parents were in work, not a drain on welfare. None of that protected us from racist slurs.

You keep missing the point Briar. Unlike you, most Australians
don't want unlimited open borders. Come up with any excuse
that you like, but that is where you and the rest of most
of the Australian community, have a fundamental difference of
opinion.

Jennifer states "They may be thousands of them in the western suburbs of Sydney, or in Queensland.

These 50,000 “illegals” are queue jumpers. That means they’ve ignored the proper processes legitimate migrants have to go through before they can call Australia home. They haven’t made their application and waited their turn in the line.

They shouldn’t be here. They’re taking Australian jobs, for less pay than Australians, no doubt, because it’s all in cash and under the counter. They are deceitful and disobedient, and they are living in hiding from the authorities.

They’re unlikely to do much good for the country because they can’t live a legal life here. They can’t build community. They can’t pay taxes. They can’t make any worthwhile contribution at all. They can only take.

Hardly qualifications for good citizenship. Hardly the type of person we want in our country"

Jennifer is right. What is the present government doing about it? Nothing! Illegal foreigners used to be detained and put on a plane out of Aus. Not any more, they are invited in for a chat and coffee and maybe given a bridging visa until they wish to leave.

http://www.news.com.au/national/no-detention-for-visa-dodgers/story-e6frfkvr-1225708050188

So not only has this government put out the welcome mat to entice illegal boat people to risk their lives, but no longer detains those illegals found to mock our system by overstaying.

But jennifer is wrong to say it is racist. It is simply incompedence and softness by this government.

“You keep missing the point Briar. Unlike you, most Australians
don't want unlimited open borders.”

It’s you who’s missing the point Yabby - again! I believe most Australians object to unlimited population considering this nation’s ecological degradation, the potential consequences of a changing climate and 10 bloody deserts!

The few refugees who make it to our shores, on rickety boats, make a small dent in the immigration programme, therefore we can continue honouring our humanitarian obligations without any significant burden on Australia's carrying capacity.

However, I'm all for significantly reducing the overall migrant intake, rounding up the overstayers and the criminals who infiltrate this country and deporting them forthwith - hasta la vista!

Humanitarian Programme 2008-2009:

refugees: 7102
Special Humanitarian: 4543
Onshore: 3209
Total: 14854

Net permanent additions to the resident population 08/09: 143,601
Permanent departures: 81,018

Thank you for a very logical article Jennifer Wilson.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/immigration-update/update-jun09.pdf

*The few refugees who make it to our shores*

Ah Dickie, that is because in the past, it was made diffficult
to get to our shores. As we know from Europe and the US,
hundreds of thousands seek the cushy Western lifestyle.

Smart people tend to act and think through before events
happen. How many hundred thousand a year on leaky boats
will it take, for you to claim it is not a few? Would you
like me to charter the Queen Mary and bring more?

<< Ah Dickie, that is because in the past, it was made diffficult
to get to our shores. As we know from Europe and the US,
hundreds of thousands seek the cushy Western lifestyle. >>

Ah, the old boat people as economic immigrants furphy.

I guess it's not fear, but it's certainly loathing. What do you reckon, Ludwig - is Yabby's characterisation of boat arrivals fair comment or deliberate vilification of bona fide refugees?