Thanks David, that was the most constructive conversation we have had. Here is the thing though and others should remember this.

The muslims are not all the same anymore than christians are all the same. We would not expect to send catholics to live in protestant parts of Ireland for example.

As for the argument that they should have gone to other muslim countries - which nice, safe place that has signed the refugee convention do people suggest? Would they go to places where the human rights violations are just as bad? Would you in their places?

I remember as a kid we had this argument over the Italians and the Greeks, then they fit in.

Then it was the Asians and Vietnamese refugees - the world didn't end and they get along now.

Muslims as a matter of fact have been in Australia since the 1830' and 1840's - the oldest mosque is in Adelaide - without the world coming to an end. As a country we outnumber muslims by 70:1 and they largely are not doing anything at all to us so why is the vilification necessary?

In every nation on earth Australians are the "aliens" and we should remember that.

It seems that the serial pest and harpy Marilyn Shepherd has found herself a permanent nest to roost in at long last, judging by the barrage of comments from her. What amazes me is the number of people who have bothered to try to reason with this ratbag. Please, please - stop encouraging her!

I am all for taking in refugees. But surely the UN doesn't deny us the right to decide who is and isn't a legitimate refugee? My family came to Australia to get away from a deteriorating society. Are we refugees? I don't claim to be.

Perhaps something needs to be done to speed up the process of assessing refugees. My understanding is that a large part of the problem is caused by the right given to refugees to appeal decisions time and again. While they are doing this, they are living in captivity - true. But they are living in safe captivity without fear of the atrocities they are fleeing. It may not be pleasant but, for those who are genuinely in need, it must surely be more pleasant than what they are coming from. If they are found to be in genuine need, they are accepted into our society. If not, they are not accepted. Surely this is fair?

I guess, at the end of the day, if we were locking them in broom cupboards and beating them daily with big sticks, there would be a solid argument that we are denying their human rights. But, as far as I know, the only right we are denying is the right to freedom. And, until they are proven to be in need of refuge, they are not refugees. They are illegal immigrants. And people who do illegal things often get locked up.

Zorro,
I'm with you. Ms Sheperd is of the far looney left, who will write anything to further her views,no matter how wrong or exagerated.

It is best to ignore her.

Zorro and Bango. I am with you too/two. Marilyn appears far too one sided and biased to be taken seriously.

Yep I am biased and proud of it and some on this forum are just a bit too precious so I will ask a series of questions and see if we can have a sensible argument about refugees instead of about me. I am not a refugee but my great-great grandfather was a refugee who came here in 1844 to escape fundamentalist Lutherans in Silesia and forced conscription by the Prussians.

1. Do you believe we should lock up children for up to 5 years or more? If so under what conditions.
2. Should we lock up adults without trial or charge for up to 7 years or should they be charged with something and be given a sentence?
3. If nice white christians claimed asylum as refugees would you automatically accept them and are they different to christian Papuans - which is what this is about?
4. Why do you believe that refugees are opportunists and why are they always conflated with the mess in France and the bombers in Britain when none of the people involved were refugees?
5. As muslims are 20% of the world's population and only 1 to seventy here, just how do you propose to keep them out?
6. My suggestion of shooting them at the coast was irony but I guess that is lost on some.

The fact is that Australia has settled 650,000 refugees since WW11 and we have an absolute obligation in law to do so and not turn them away.