Marliyn,
G'Day, it is years sinc I argued with you on 'web diary',(remember the Tampa and the SIEV X) I see you are strill at it. Trying to convince everybody the illegals are poor, impoverished and persecuted souls that deserve our sympathy.

Well I am still around too and I still say they are 'illegals', see below.
http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/detention/about/background.htm

What is more they are con artists, cheats and shonks who get here by fraud and bribery. They gate crash our country and lie to our officials for their own gain only.

They can be stopped and will be stopped, it is just a pity it has taken this long and the cost to us so high. Roll on the election.

Why are they so disliked by the general public? Simply because we do not like being conned by shonks and fraudsters.

Here is a link that everyone should read:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/13/inside-australias-waiting-room-why-they-board-boats-in-indonesia/?wpmp-switcher=mobile

Here's a few more links that should be read:

http://theconversation.com/malaysia-solution-stand-back-and-take-a-deep-breath-says-burnside-3172

http://theconversation.com/if-were-serious-about-stopping-the-boats-we-must-take-more-refugees-4820

Lexi - Thank you your first link CONFIRMS what people have been saying most are ECONOMIC REFUGEES.

1)Quote. the 60-year-old Hazara farmer He spent 13 years in Iran before embarking on the trip to Australia. He had to leave his wife, two daughters and four sons behind in Iran. THAT IS AN ECONOMIC REFUGEE he was safe in Iran.

2)Quote. Hamad is older and has lived in Iran for most of his life. He travelled to Indonesia via Turkey, where his family is now living. ANOTHER ECONOMIC REFUGEE he was safe in Turkey.

3)Quote. They estimated only 10-15% of the Hazara asylum seekers in Cisarua were travelling in family groups and that there are very few women. All the rest are single men. ECONOMIC REFUGEES OR COWARDS WHO LEFT THERE FAMILY BEHIND.

4)Quote. “One year I’ve been living here. It’s not a camp, it’s a jail.” THEN WHY DO THEY RIOT WHEN IN AUSTRALIA if it is better?

5)Quote.I don’t have a lot of money and I have to send money to my family. There is no work here. AGAIN ECONOMIC REFUGEE SHOULD BE WITH THE FAMILY.

6)Quote. “It is difficult for us to afford our lives in Indonesia,” they said. Abdul told us that people develop psychological problems because life is so meaningless. AGAIN ECOONOMIC REFUGEES COMING BECAUSE WE PAY THEM INDONESIA GIVE THEM NOTHING.

7)Quote. We heard several stories about police officers and prison guards demanding money, sometimes as much as $4000. AGAIN SAFE BUT ECONOMIC REFUGEES

8)Quote. The bathroom is no good. All the time it is wet … we have to sleep on the floor. SO WHY DO THEY RIOT IN AUSTRALIA WHEN CONDITIONS ARE BETTER?

9)Quote. officially recognised as refugees and receive a small amount of support from the IOM, which is in part funded by the Australian government. PROOF THE GOVERNMENT IS HIDING THE REAL COST OF REFUGEES

10)Quote. His damning assessment highlighted the lack of engagement the Hazaras have with the country that has given them protection. Australia is the prize. NOTE THEY'RE SAFE IN INDONESIA BUT WANT IT BETTER ECONOMIC REFUGEE AGAIN.

Thanks for all the shouting, Philip S...

The one thing stands out in all this is the surfeit of outright fear and hysteria from predominantly emotional, middle-aged, middle-class men.

Yes that's right Poirot, middle aged, middle class men..

You know the type. They have devoted their lives to their kids & grand kids welfare.

They get a bit testy when they see some middle aged befuddled lefty woman, doing her best to destroy what they have done.