I somewhat agree with buttonbright. I don't think that women should be treated differently to men in this regard. However I think the reasoning is that children, especially those under 12 shouldn't be in detention at all, but it would be inhumane and bad policy to release them without also releasing at least of their parents.

And the reason for at least locking up one parent for the 90 days is to make sure that the whole family isn't a security threat, so in this instance the father has been left as a deposit. This is a crude understanding and explanation for buttonbright, so if anybody knows better then they can explain it.

OK, so how is it racist (Polly) to say that Australia has immigration laws that should be respected, and the Australian system for upholding these laws works very well? Exactly which race am I abusing?

I repeat my earlier points; decreased number of refugees means the system works. The Australian electorate has shown no desire to change the system.

Why when we get something right in relation to crime (and breaking the immigration laws is a crime) do we want to change it? If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Ever lived in a country with very high levels of illegal immigration? The levels of crime, and illegal labour, soar and as other posters have noted, it is the poorer members of society that suffer.

What the hell is this bogeyman "racist". What exactly does it mean? And why is it something to be offended of? I've just spent the day with an Indian and a Maori, who were making 'racist' jibes about the chinese and aboriginals all day. If I said the same things they said, I'd probably get thrown in gaol, being white and all.
Put simply 'racism' is just an interaction between different races, not necessarily of the Hitler variety.

But that is the thing, I live in the real world. I don't live a cosy existence life inside academia, sheltered from the nastiness of human nature in some bubble of idealism.

Graham, I won't bother with your petition, since it is hopelessly lopsided. Seems like some socialist organisation was informed about the petition in advance, ready to sway the results one way.

Petro, seems like you are giving into peer pressure: trying to curry favour with academics (ageing hippies in their 50s and 60s)and assorted rich kids.

Davo,

Everyone on the Consultations mailing list were notified yesterday. The fact that left wing people have chosen to endorse it and forward it by 50 to 1 over right wing people tells me that overall, despite a majority of Australians disagreeing with Petro's bills, supporters of the bills feel more strongly about the issue then opposers.

This is largely because the pro billiers feel they need to work harder to reach their outcome, whereas people who support the status quo don't think that it is likely to be upset. If the boot was on the other foot and rebel backbenchers proposed some bills, you would be supporting it along with another 500 people or more, whereas only a dozen or do would bother opposing it.

There are 12 people when last I checked who agree with your viewpoint. If you have seen the diversity of opinion on OLO then you know that that is because only 12 people feel strongly enough to do so, not because of a leftwing plot. Why don't you join them, what do you have to lose?

Maybe us posters should be the govt. Re Davo i don't think that racism is beholden to whites. Still doens't make it right however. I remember being 18 and blonde (thanks L'oreal) and white and being chased off the beach by a bunch of very angry koori kids with stones and an 8 year old Koorie girl telling me a was a "white something". Appalled yes, but has long made me think. I was bouncing around in the 80s thinking sexism was over! It wasn't, never was. Sadly, I don't think it ever will be. But i live in hope! That no matter, in this capitasist age, that no matter my race, religion, gender, sexual preference, child bearing capacity, or the colour of my hair, that shouldn't matter. Now, what country you are comimg from and wanting to buy into this is another story. But if any posters agree that this govt brings compassion and accountability into - well, you just as well drown kittens! It all depends on whether you're prepared to treat human beings like human beings no matter their circumstance.

We do live in this human world, let's cut us some slack, like we would do for the bears, crocs, sharks, etc.

Those of you who are offended about being called racist should bear in mind the American joke: "A racist [or Nazi in some versions] is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal or neo-conservative." Personally, I don't give a damn about race and think that immigration is a good thing in moderation. The difference between me and the folks on the other side is that I don't think resources are infinite or that the Australian environment or culture (which is worth preserving) have unlimited resilience.

It is hard to answer Motema as he has access to the full text of the bills. Even if I did, I'm not a lawyer. However, see Alan Anderson's column in today's Sydney Morning Herald. He is a lawyer and says that the bills effectively limit detention to 90 days. This might not help the backpacker who overstays his visa, but will be pure gold to phony asylum seekers. Anderson is worried about a massive blowout of illegal immigration followed by the collapse of the welfare state and a public shift to the far Right. A bridging visa is as good as permanent residency, which I never mentioned. Our open borders media owners just have to focus the cameras on those sobbing children, whenever a family is threatened with deportation. It is naive to think they won't be allowed to stay. In fact you folks on the other side ought to ask yourselves why you get so much media oxygen as opposed to advocates for the intellectually disabled, for example.