As an approved migrant, who had to wait and stand in line, I find nothing wrong (or repugnant) with the current policy of detention for non-authorised illegal migration seekers (refugees come with papers which already identifying their status and we have a program which covers this category of migrant).

Illegal immigrants present a far greater threat to any Australia than simply being here and when the goal is to be free to merge into the population, community assessment orders basically reward their bad actions and would encourage a return to the past of flooding numbers.

The detention centre costs are based on a fixed cost manning and operating basis (the nature of delivery of the service). The only way to reduce the overall cost is to close some centres – suggest the capital cities be closed first – detainees will be fine at Port Headland and Woomera – at least that will discourage the enthusiasm of bottom-feeding lawyers too.

Oh and the overall cost of illegal migrants is not simply the daily subsistence cost of a detention centre. Alot of costs go into legal claims and challenges, repatriation back to state of origin, the cost effect of any illegal activities they may undertake whilst finding a position in Australia etc.. etc..

Another furphy is comparing somewhere like Baxter (detention centre) to Barwon (maximum security prison) – before making such a generalisation for the sake of hyperbole please present some evidence by way of daily orders and operating instructions which qualifies such statements.

Is it “humane” ? – well I am told a lot of people who live in Eastern Europe and the old Soviet Empire would find warmth, a water proof roof and a few square meals a day “luxury” beyond their wildest dreams.
I suggest you define “Humane” before you decide what qualifies.

Lets be very real and honest about this ! IMMIGRATION-is political.
Secondly, lets also realize with rubber meets the road honesty that a would be assylum seeker coming illegally to Australia has only to do the following to avoid lengthy detention.

1/ I am so and so, from such and such a place !
2/ I am of the this or that race, my village is 'this place' the head man is whosimajig.
3/ We have been hounded by the Militia such and such, and therefore fear for our lives.

I'm thinking now of how EASY this is in regard to my own wifes background in Sarawak, its not a hard thing.

With this information, the DIMA can quickly verify the veracity of the story, so one has to raise the question, if it is that EASY, why are all these people still in detention ?

ANSWER:

1/ They willfully refuse to give credible personal details.
2/ They disagree with the assessement, and the 'refugee industry' heavies kick in with appeal after appeal.
3/ Its not about verification anyway, its about my cousin in Sydney who told us what a great place Australia is, and I just want to bring my family here and share in your prosperity, and if possible, influence your political balance and system in favor of more like myself.

Now, the idea that detention has not deterred would be assylum seekers coming via Indonesia is not supported by anecdotal evidence.
There is no flood, because its HARD to get here now.

If all people had to do was jump on a leaky boat, zip across to Australia, and be welcomed by all the democrats, greens and assorted lefties who seem to consider them a source of additional voting power, then there WOULD be a flood. Half of Pakistan among others would be here.

Large numbers of uncontrolled migrants legal or otherwise, (controlled immig is fine with me) will eventually strip a countries dignity and sovereignty, cause racial strife, and social dislocation along with political turmoil. Ask the Ivorians, and read the history to discover why.

Col you sound s-o-o-o patronising (part quote) "A lot of people who live in Eastern Europe would find warmth, a water proof roof and a 'few?' square meals a day - luxury" Very glad you are not the immigration minister, though verandah limestone could probably use a person like you even if only for your compassion. Once Australians believed in a 'fair-go' for all, not now apparently.
In Australia the standards are or should be Australian standards. People should have our standard of life if they don't then, by our standards, they are being treated harshly. By our standards the present "health,prosperity and leisure camps" are concentration camps, remember I said 'by our - Australian - standards. regards, numbat
PS. A German Pastor once stated "when they came for the communists I did nothing because I wasn't a communist then the same for other groups of people then finally they came for him and there was no one left to help him" Now in the land of the "fair Go" First they locked up the assylum seekers, I did nothing because I wasn't an assylum seeker ETC!

numbat, if I understand your comment correctly "In Australia the standards are or should be Australian standards. People should have our standard of life if they don't then, by our standards, they are being treated harshly. " then it could be assumed that if you have a better car or home than me then it is your responsibility to fix that. Probably not what you intended but an extrapolation from what I saw in your post.

How far do you take that logic? How much responsibility should go to people and their cultures for their circumstances? Not easy questions.

BOAZ_David, whilst most of what you said in your most recent post lines up with impressions I have of the detention question I'm still left with with the suspicion that what we are doing has some big flaws. In a pragmattic sense I am very concerned about the impacts of detention on anybody we later let stay, looks like a great way to instil massive resentment of our society and institutions and a possible breeding ground for bigger social issues. I don't have good answers to this but the article raises some idea's worth thinking about which might lessen the resentment of those who stay (and their cultural groups already in the country).

I agree that asylum seekers should be assessed in the community.

Political refugees have fled from traumatic situations and locking them away only creates further stress and mental illness (I have first hand knowledge having had to take many ex-detainee refugees to mental health professionals).

Of course, building and maintaining jails such as Baxter detention centre, Port Augusta is extremely costly to taxpayers and when you factor in Christmas Island and Nauru... the mental and economic costs are enormous.

For both human rights and economic reasons detention centres should be closed and the metal they are built from melted down then made into playgrounds for children to play in. Those asylum seekers inside should be released into the community now where they can be assessed with as little damage as possible to both them and us.

I don't think any country should accept refugees if they are unlikely to fit into the society they intend to live. Refugees should be placed into a society similar to their own.

They should be discouraged from coming here. Why? Moving to Australia isn't solving the problems they are fleeing. In fact, it is exacerbating the problems because refugees are a safety valve for the world's tyrants. When the people flee, tyrants escape accountability.

So detention centres do have the effect of discouraging people from coming here illegally. As for Australia being a country built on immigration, get real. That is a very romantic revision of history, Australia was built on convicts and orphans stolen from there parents in Britain.