'What exactly is humane about turning unseaworthy vessels overcrowded with asylum-seekers back out to danger at sea? I can accept the adjective "consistent", but "humane"?'

In comparison to current policy it's very humane and in fact the boats won't be turned out to sea but back to Indonesia.

With a very limited perception I suppose you'd think you'd have to turn back dozens of boats.

Returning one boat would see an end to the matter... like last time.

All your other points are just more labor left and green spin.

Now tell me two things.

Firstly if Malaysia is such a great policy why doesn't Julia recall Parliament and pass the legislation? Shes had the numbers in the Lower House since she bought Slipper. Her problem is that there are many in her side of the Lower House who will abstain.

Secondly what do we do with asylum seeker number 801?

'I mean, you were just not cool unless you were a female who have been to Israel, worked on a Kibbutz, and got ferked by an Israeli para"'

That is a generalisation, a boorish mysogynist comment ... It wouldn't be if you'd said, if you were male and your Para was female... as well. But comprehension and expression isn't your strong point.

Israel is not a Western Liberal Democracy like us. It' not liberal nor western.

It's basic democratic nature is questionable when it's minority communities can be evicted and subjected to ethnic cleansing by the majority.

Why don't you go live there Lego... with your 18th century attitudes.

imajulianutter says,"In comparison to current policy it's very humane and in fact the boats won't be turned out to sea but back to Indonesia."

The current policy does not force the turn-back of vulnerable people. The boats are escoted to safety instead. It's a two week journey back to developed Indonesian landfall.

"With a very limited perception I suppose you'd think you'd have to turn back dozens of boats.

Returning one boat would see an end to the matter... like last time"

Thanks for the insult. Educate yourself at the following link. There are more than a dozen encounters with SIEV's that you need to know about, not one. Also, look up the SIEV X disaster for yourself Warning, it's sad.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/07/the-consequences-of-turning-boats-back-siev-towback-cases/

"All your other points are just more labor left and green spin."

Actually they're facts. Have you got any?

"Her problem is that there are many in her side of the Lower House who will abstain."

You answered your own question about recalling parliament, with hypothetical answer, so I won't spoil that. To meet the national need in relation to deterring boats, the Coalition is required to do more than simply oppose for political purposes. That is "her problem", and it is why Labor invited the Coalition to a discussion in the national interest.

"Secondly what do we do with asylum seeker number 801?"

If the swap arrangement starts afresh, there won't be an 801 as before that number is reached the deterrent will take effect. Why do you think it took more than a dozen SIEV's for the actions of the Australian Navy to take effect? Information takes time to travel.Also see the following to get a taste of some naval action,
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4816#128339

Come back to me over anything I've said whenever you decide to gain the necessary knowledge and understanding qualifying you to take part in a debate. Until you demonstrate that, I'm not wasting another keystroke trying to plumb the depths of your ignorance and bigotry, or to subject myself to and databank of insults you reserve for anyone who disagrees with you.

Luciferase,

Your position is perplexing. Your support for the Malaysian solution appears to be aimed ultimately at stopping the boats - by what you perceive is a humane methodology. However, detention in Malaysia is unlikely to be very humane, even for the returnees, and you appear to ignore the fact that it is only those with means who manage to get on a boat in the first place. Many, many more live in squalor in Indonesia and Malaysia, with no work, and threat of jail if they get caught working without a work permit, and without the means to hop on a boat. This has to be a very desperate situation, and best avoided altogether if possible.

All these poor desperates have made hazardous journeys, and have only done so in genuine hopes of a better life. What makes you think they're going to stop short of the last leg of the journey to the 'promised land' - if they can only find the means to get on a boat? Sure, some may be assessed by UNHCR, but only apparently after years of waiting, and then only the first 4,000 get a seat to Aus anyway. But, what of the rest? Do they wait for the next batch of 4,000? And, how do they live in the meantime?

How much more humane to find a way to avert these poor souls from having to leave their homes in the first place. Remembering also that many don't even make it to Malaysia or Indonesia, but die somewhere along the way.

"Ojnab" made some very good points, but you seem to have just ignored them completely. The suggestion is that you take a wider view of the whole 'refugee' exodus, instead of merely focusing on the boat arrivals - which are only the tip of the iceberg after all.

Compassion is all well and good, but our emotions should not avert our eyes from the wider view and ultimately from the only viable long term solution for all concerned.

It seems that we always get sidetracked in these discussions: our focus must be to stop the boats because this is a cynical, exploitative, illegal and dangerous trade. How and where we process people once they have arrived is secondary. As the majority of the smuggling trade is based in Indonesia we must work with Indonesia and agree to establish a processing/temporary detention centre in Indonesia. This would immediately bring the trade to an abrupt stop as nobody is going to hand over $5000 to get on a boat only to be returned to where they came from.This is where Kevin Rudd comes in,as Foreign Minister, to negotiate at the highest level in Indonesia.

Oh well, it won't be long and you won't even hear about the boats.
Moves are being made to prevent video of illegals arriving being shown
by TV stations. ACMA is being requested to implement bans.

No doubt someone has taken a leaf out of the book by Goebbels, Stalin & Mao.