Thank you, Jo Coghlan, for a timely reminder of how pernicious policy can be.

the destruction of id documentation,
Dream On,
As jazz points out, how did they get through several countries to get to Indonesia. With documents of course. Once in Indonesia the documents are put in a safe place and/or forwarded to Australia to be collected after our ignorant authorities let them all stay here.
It simply is numbing to see so many silly people in authority to get so hoodwinked.

*Bazz, Individual, HasBeen*

I suspect that none of you has even read the *Asylum Seeker convention* and if you have, you either choose to ignore it or alternatively you simply do not understand it.

Having said that though, and in the hope that you do not misunderstand me, if you do not want legitimate asylum seekers to come here, then as said on numerous occasions, what you should be doing is advocating for a withdrawal from the convention, instead of voting for individuals who demonstrate contempt for it, and a lot of other conventions as well.

I have no problem with anyone simply not wanting asylum seekers.

However, to be contemptuous of the law, brings with it wide ranging consequences, whether it be local, state, national or even international, which in and of itself, is a subject worthy of its own thread.

Of course, in not accepting asylum seekers, you risk contributing to a situation like that which occurred when those seeking to escape Germany were turned back. And, every now and then, perhaps the loss of a high level defector, a scientist, or someone else "carrying" invaluable information of one kind or another.

As for documents, clearly some of you do not understand and are unprepared to accept what is necessary in some cases to escape from threat to life and liberty.

As for the boats themselves, I accept that there will likely always be those who are a security or disease risk as well as those who are simply looking for a better life. But of course, that is not limited to boat people, is it now? And of course, those who come in by plane are not subject to mandatory detention are they, notwithstanding that as recently broadcast, there is a significant problem of people arriving with bogus documents who do not choose to voluntarily disclose this?

As for the apprehension of asylum seekers, I believe that it provides good practice for our military and national security networks, much as insects nibbling on plants.

What is of fundamental importance to me, for a lot of reasons, is that in dealing with these people, the authorities do not resort to abuse. As history suggests, individuals who are allowed to practice abuse soon enough turn on their own when they stand not to get their own way, which ought be a concern for all of us.

I also believe that as life has become unnecessarily tough for a lot of otherwise decent hard working Australians, that the mere thought of it becoming worse in part as a consequence as a result of those who appear to receiving preferential treatment, is something which is unstomachable.

But I would caution that some of you by giving into fear, hatred, prejudice and bigotry are allowing yourselves to be manipulated for the purpose of gaining your political support.

OK DreamOn. What's your plan?

Bearing in mind the following:

1. We need to be fair to legitimate refugees in the camps waiting for lawful admission.
2. We need to minimise the costs to the Australian people.
3. We need to take into account that many of the asylum seekers have no documents, which means long and protracted processing to establish who they are.
4. Quarantine
5. Young men without papers claiming to be younger than 17 (clearly many are not) so that if admitted, they can bring their families out.

How would you design and manage the system if you had the chance

Dreamon, stop trying to divert the conversation.
You have not explained how they got to Indonesia without passports.

Now do not say anything until you answer that.