Here we go again.
More leftist propaganda.
He is entitled to his opinion, however, at the end of the day Australia is a democracy. We had an election and most people disagreed with this author.

Does 60%+ people are against "Boat People" tell you something Jack? It tells you that these people are not being fair. "Being fair" an Australian thing. Most Australians like things to be "fair."

The objection to these people is also one of "Religion." Most Australians don't particularly like the "religion" most these people bring with them & for good reason.

Maybe one of the caveats for a refugee coming to Australia should be that they are not of a particular disruptive Religion. All others welcome provided that they follow the "fair" procedure.

I think 60% sounds about right. Those boats were tearing Australia apart. If 60% say no more, then as a democracy our government is more-or-less obliged to listen. And act.
And I further think the land mine analogy simply sucks.
But I do agree with the authors suggestion that we need to encourage a more robust screening of Middle Eastern arrivals when they land in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Something along the lines of Why are you here? and Where are you going? and Where is the ticket to your next destination?
None of those countries can claim to be fully good neighbours if they knowingly allow entry to those simply transiting their country on their way to an unscheduled boat crossing to Australia.
They have to know what this issue is doing to the political and social fabric here. Listening posts aside, do we treat them with such disdain? Do we put such pressure on their political and social fabric?

When are we going to stop labelling these people "asylum seekers"? They are not. They are seeking to settle in Australia by sneaking through they back door. This is an option that is expensive and these people are wealthy enough to afford the fare.

We know the young man murdered on Manus was an architecture student seeking further studies here. Hardly a poor asylum seeker. The abc last week gave us further insights into these people and it wasn't a pretty sight. Denied entry through a skilled migrant intake, they knowingly sought illegal entry. When turned back they showed their true colours. "F--K Australia" and "remember 911". I don't think this is the calibre of person we need to be importing.

Maybe the author need to be reminded that we have an orderly program to resettle true refugees.

Welcome to Little Australia.

The land of self-righteousness and blind introversion. Let's cut ourselves off from the rest of the world, protect our borders from invasion by refugees from other countries, smug in our (mistaken) belief that we are forever able to distance ourselves from what is happening in other places.

The prevailing view seems to be that "they brought it upon themselves. Primarily, it would seem, through the unforgivable crime of not being Australian. If only they were like us, then the world would be such a better place.

This view is all of a piece with the protectionists' idea that free trade is a bad thing, growing our population is a disaster, and all other religions are thinly-disguised evil.

Forget "a fair go". That might actually involve being compassionate. And compassion, quite clearly, is just for wimps and sheilas.

Keep those xenophobic posts a-coming, you guys. They say more about your morality and ethical make-up than you could possibly realize.

Pericles: smug in our (mistaken) belief that we are forever able to distance ourselves from what is happening in other places.

What is happening in other places is a good reason for cutting them off & not wanting them to extend their hated of each other in Australia, as is happening now. (Sunnie/Sheia devide)

Pericles: The prevailing view seems to be that "they brought it upon themselves."

That's is exactly why they are deserting their own country.

Pericles: Forget "a fair go". That might actually involve being compassionate.

Compassionate? This is "Business." There is little room for compassion in "Business." Especially if those to whom you are being compassionate to will try to kill you some time in the future.

Pericles: They say more about your morality and ethical make-up than you could possibly realize.

No it doesn't. It says that we have though this issue through & come up with a different outcome to you. Australians, living in a Democracy, are allowed to have a different opinion to you without being insulted.

Would you complain if I said that you had gone over to the Dark Side, that you support bringing terrorists into the country. I would say so. Even though it may seem like you would support those things. That's your particular opinion & you're entitled to your opinion as we are with ours.