What wonderful informed people we have on OLO "idiots" but when writers use these terms, one does wonder who are the bigger idiots, I really would like to know where the informed get all their information and believe it. Real truth is very hard to find these days, but obviously one seems to be missing these very truthful reports somewhere, please tell me where they are? then one can be enlightened, remember it has to be the truth that you obviously know about like Iraq & Afghanistan.

James you are only a bit right.
'know within a few square metres exactly where they are at any given moment,' this is true. 'that self same equipment letting them know exactly where national maritime boundaries are' this is wrong.

'Nutter and his Tory mates think it is a good thing'

who said I was a tory. I'm not I'm liberal.

and you are typically Nazi.

informed people we have on OLO "idiots" but when writers use these terms
Ojnab,
It appears you have not noticed that the open-minded, open-eyed i.e. sober thinking OLO posters aren't recipients of that term ?

Well, those that have routinely trashed so-called sovereignty, are the Indonesians.
For over a decade Indonesian boats crewed by Indonesians have routinely breached our sovereignty with complete contempt for our laws and our sovereignty.
When we've resorted other alternatives, they simply pulled the plug on these leaking hulks, purchased for a single one way trip!
Rather than allow people to drown at sea, we were obliged to pick them up.
Now however, we've supplied them with lifeboats and returned them to their disembarking point. What do the Indonesians expect, that we allow these people and their Indonesian crews to simply drown?
Those who want to settle in Australia, need to understand that the only way is through the front door supported by bona fide documentation and proper visas!
The Indonesians created this problem for themselves, by acting hand in glove with illegal people traffickers, and creating the very conduit, that has seen over a hundred thousand people now parked in their country.
The recent incursion by Chinese military, into Indonesian waters, should focus the mind of the Indonesians on what really matters and a need to have a friend and ally minding the back door.
If they are naive enough to belie e that the Chinese present no real threat, they need look no further than Tibet, and understand, that they with their population base may well be seen as a major impediment to the future expansion plans of the Chinese, or their plans to annex resource rich lands and or marine assets?
The return airfare from Indonesia, is just a little over two hundred dollars, and people with bona fide documentation and genuine asylum claims, would have little difficulty, getting here on a tourist visa, and then claiming asylum on arrival.
It's only the back door that has been closed, the front door with it's welcome mat is still wide open.
So, we haven't abandoned our duty or commitment under the convention, just the illegal trade, that has cost the lives of over a thousand people.
Rhrosty.

Rhosty,
When you really assess what's going on it' becomes crystal clear that the boat people dilemma is australian made. The agenda driven/created refugees are taking 110% advantage of it. Those pro-boat people traitors in our midst calling themselves Australian should be charged with treason along with the political parties they belong to.

The problem appears to be that they knew where their ship was but they
were uncertain where the Indonesian Coast was.
There are rules about how you define lines across, Peninsulas, Bays etc.
That is where they became unstuck.
These rules apply to warships but not to customs vessels.

So, halduell your comment was rather off in its accuracy.