Jo Coghlan
you want to see real disadvantaged people who have really suffered the greatest traumas,persecution and pain then you must avert your gaze from these rich and well-fed pretenders coming in from leaky boats with their suitcases full of American dollars and take a look at the people in the Horn of Africa who are more deserving of our sympathy and support. Let them all in first before you let in ANY so-called boat people.I have had a gut full of these political pretenders who are after the easy life here.
socratease

An error in this story
"Refugees don't know where the boats will be taking them"

I would doubt that- as with the exception of Sri Lanka and any Pacific nations- every other country that our asylum seekers come from is separated from the nearest ocean by at least two safe countries- meaning by the time they physically reach a boat they are no longer fleeing from anywhere- but intending to continue to another destination- and as you yourself said that this would probably deter asylum seekers, it would indicate that they already HAD intended to make the journey specifically to AUSTRALIA.