As was suggested, the best way to come to the actual amount the fee would be would be by an auction. If parliament decides to allow 80,000 new arrivals per year, then approx. 1,500 permits should be auctioned off per week. We could thus get weekly updates on the popularity and health of our great nation by noticing if the price was moving up or down.

Shadow Minister,
Yes, you’re right, Australia would have to withdraw from the UNHCR charter. And the reason we don’t is?

Macedonian A,
So let’s get this right. The system can’t get corrupted when people happen to have a lot of money in the bank when they apply, immaterial of whether it is still there after being granted residence, but the system can get corrupted when we have taken the new immigrants $50,000 and it is now locked safely away in the Treasury’s bank account, but we can still kick him out if he misbehaves?

Bruce Haigh,
You called someone you disagree with ignorant. Wow, there’s absolutely no way to beat that argument!

The boat people are a tiny fraction of the number of immigrants coming into Australia every year ! Something must be done to lower the overall numbers, Presently we have a Welfare system that supposed to be out of control,so why are we not being a bit more stricter on the immigrants that are allowed to come here, in respect of their earning capacity ?
The Boats haven't stopped, they have all just been hidden from out of plain sight !

trapdiocan,

The majority of immigrants are young and educated, and add to the net wealth and taxes that support the welfare and pension schemes.

EC,

Why withdraw from the UNHCR charter when we no longer have a problem?

Shadow,
“The majority of immigrants are young and educated, and add to the net wealth and taxes that support the welfare and pension schemes.”

If 51% of immigrants are hardworking that’s good. But that is still no reason to allow 49% (whatever) in so they can go on the dole. The idea of quarantining all immigrants from the dole for a number of years is good. (Legislate special exemptions from minimum wage laws for them.) Those who truly suffer persecution where they come from won’t mind doing it tough here until they get on their feet considering they will be in a free and safe country.

“Why withdraw from the UNHCR charter when we no longer have a problem?”

David’s proposal put into practice would save us a lot of money, eliminate (what might be viewed as) corruption of the system (arranged marriages, political choices in what demographics allowed in, Foreign Minister’s prerogative to override deportation orders, subjective decision making of refugee tribunals, alleged family reunions, possibly backhanders in play throughout the bureaucratic system), and de-congest our courts.

Edward Carson,

Now the illegal boats have been stopped, the majority i.e. 90% are skilled migrants on 457 visas that pay tax, and receive no welfare, medicare, school subsidies etc. Even when they do get PR, they are not eligible for unemployment benefits for at least 2 years.