Bernie

That's exactly what the people smugglers/criminals are waiting for. They are watching and following Australia closely as their people trafficking model was destroyed.

If the Government caves in - trafficking will re-commence, more lives will be lost at sea.

SAINTS,

The best solution would be to provide a safer alternative for asylum seekers. Were the government to announce that any refugees arriving at Boigu Island will be treated as if they've arrived in Australia by plane. Boigu Island is so close to PNG that there's very little chance of anyone drowning no matter how leaky their boat is.

Once there's a safe alternative, those currently in Nauru or on Manus Island can be resettled in Australia without reviving the trafickers' business model — especially if Australia makes it clear that this is a one off to make up for denying them the safe alternative in the past, nobody crossing the Timor Sea in unseaworthy vessels in future will be resettled in Australia.

Hi Aidan,

So all people, refugees and economic migrants, have to do is fly to Port Moresby and nip around to Boigu, and they'll be jake ? Gosh, I wonder why people haven't thought of that before. Brilliant.

The point, dear child, is that the government is trying to dissuade people from entering Australia illegally. Should they lob onto Boigu, they'll be transferred pretty quick to Manus, awaiting processing.

And one problem with PNG is that it won't be the country they're fleeing persecution in, i.e. the requirement for countries of first arrival to accept genuine refugees. Nobody is a refugee from PNG. Ergo, illegal immigrants. Ergo, Manus Island.

Oy. Like talking to a three-year-old.

Joe

Aiden, the smugglers will just say see, wait a year and they will let you in.
There is an option available to them, just place themselves in the
hands of the UNHCR before they spend any money.
It means of course that those already in the queue will be settled before them.

Any scheme like you suggest would not be viable unless the immigrants
believe they will be let in.

Soon however it will no longer be acceptable by anyone to open the
floodgates. What has happened in Europe is just an early indication
of what could happen when Egypt collapses.

Our problem is how do we stop several million turning up on our doorstep.
It will not just be our problem the whole world will face this.
There is one question that needs an answer.
If the expected economic collapse occurs will the resultant conditions
stop any large scale immigration except over small distances ?

Hi Joe,

The alleged point is to stop people drowning at sea. But the government's policy was never really about saving lives, it was about keeping refugees away. Stopping drownings at sea was never the real objective, it was just a slogan to make Rudd's policy look bad.

And you seem to be implying that flying to Port Moresby then going to Boigu is much easier than just flying to Australia. Why?

Just to reiterate: I'm not saying asylum seekers on Boigu should automatically be given refugee status; I'm saying they should be treated as if they've arrived in Australia by plane. If they don't have a good reason why they can't settle in PNG then they could be deported to PNG. But not Manus Island; that's just cruel.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Bazz, the smugglers can say what they like – it doesn't mean anyone will believe them.

Many refugees don't have the option of placing themselves in the UNHCR. And even for those who do, the queue's a myth. They can wait all their lives and still not be settled.

You're looking at the problem the wrong way – we should be trying to profit from the refugees, not keep them all out.

The global economy may decline, but it will not collapse. Any competently managed economy will avoid recession.

Aidan

You say – “The alleged point is to stop people drowning at sea. But the government's policy was never really about saving lives, it was about keeping refugees away. Stopping drownings at sea was never the real objective, it was just a slogan to make Rudd's policy look bad”.

Response – is that what you really believe?

We are dealing with people traffickers/smugglers, criminals – who really don’t care how many lives are lost at sea – any sea. They just waiting for any chance to re-start their people trafficking trade.

You don’t seem to understand the fact that – those who smuggle, traffic people – are criminals, they are organised criminal gangs. People trading is “illegal” and is a criminal offence in any country.

We already have a “solution” to the problem via Minister Morrison and now Minister Dutton. Australia has made it extremely clear to all/any people traffickers/smugglers, criminals – our borders are closed.

Under Howard Government (Liberals) at the end of their reign there were 7 people only in detention. Labor came into power, changed Border Policy, and opened the flood gates for 50,000 illegal boat people (including 8,000 children) who all came via people traffickers/smugglers, criminals. During this time there were 1,200 “souls” lost at sea – that we know of, there could have been many more.

Having paid the fee of $10,000 for each person, on the way over passports and/or other forms of identification were thrown overboard – oh but not that mobile phone.

During this influx of “illegal boat people” or “economic refugees” 17 detention centres were opened. Since 2013 current Government has shut down 13.

Q. Why does it take so long to process people. A. No identification docs.