Marilyn and Hedgehog.

I'm sure I've asked this before, but don't recall a very definitive answer.

What... is your preferred POLICY position regarding border control ?

I think Marilyn has in the past mentioned something vague like "We can sure accept a hell of a lot more than we are now".....

But can we tighten this up a bit ?

Can we agree on the following ?

1/ A lax border control policy will result in large numbers of people arriving on our shores from the Middle east and other places.
2/ This has been evidenced by the UK experience of 490,000 as pointed out by Divergence.

If we can agree on this, we can move forward. If we cannot agree on this, then there is little point in debating because it is abundantly clear that it is in fact the case based on experience from other places such as UK and especially now Spain (via its little colony in Africa) I mean..this is so real it is happening right NOW as I type so please don't deny it.

FORWARD MARCH.... assuming we are still together. Why can we not agree to some common ground here ?

Do we need 'deterrent' (detention etc) to avoid a flood ?
If not, and an unmanable flood does come, HOW will you counter this ?

If we can find comfortable agreement on these points, I'd say this has been a worthwhile exercise.

I hope you both (and others ) will take the time and trouble to give these questions some thoughtful reply.
cheers

I am new to this gane but the only person here I like is sneekee

Hedgehog

“…..appear to be in a fierce contest over which is the biggest A#$@hole.
I am prepared to give Col a narrow win on points.”

I will defer to your expertise, as far as an “A#$@hole” is concerned,

You obviously have a more practical “exposure” and experience in that area than either David or myself.

Although, deciding who would win in a “competitive” context I can understand, would present a natural challenge to you. The very idea of “competition” is alien to your rather inept view, where the “nanny state” prevails and directs us around like little ducks in a socialist shooting gallery.

Now hedgehog, run back and play with the moonrats and other Erinaceidae.

David BOAZ, do not be too hard on hedgehog, it is natural for him to reduce his comments to sarcasm and expletives, his only defense, before capitulation, when he is so obviously outclassed across every other comparative measure of individual assessment.

INKEEMAGEE2 “I am new to this gane but the only person here I like is sneekee”

Good, “sneekee” needs a friend, same as you need a spell-checker

I wasnt trying to contribute any expertise into the debate. I will mention that i recall similar hysteria in the late 70's early 8o's regarding those pesky Vietnamese boat people.
Who amongst us would not agree that Australia is a richer society for it ?
Mainly i just like to get under Col's skin,and i have refined it to an artform.
His views are so offensive i believe he needs whacked every time he bobs his head up.
The poor insecure soul then spends time defending himself and advising everybody how clever he is.

Logic, you wrote;

“But being held in low-security centres is surely not such a major problem and surely far better than razor wire detention and isolation.”

It seems that you are having a bet each way here. Why don’t you advocate no detention? If people are going to abide by the system and not try to abscond or obfuscate the process, then why wouldn’t you advocate a no-detention regime?

Alternatively, if people are going to play up then why wouldn’t you advocate a secure detention regime?

The middle ground of low-security detention doesn’t make any sense.

Why do you think that low-security detention would be any less isolating than ”razor wire detention”?

At the time of the sinking of the Siev X, it was reported that there were hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Indonesia waiting to make the voyage to Australia.

After the Siev X sank the boats stopped coming so what happened to these people? Did they go back home, or somewhere else? Find another way to get here or absorbed into the community in Indonesia? Does anyone know?

The boats coming here were so overloaded and unseaworthy, it was only a matter of time before a disaster happened. The people the Tampa picked up were from a sinking boat and were lucky the Tampa was nearby.

For those that want a memorial, it certainly would be more suited in Indonesia, say the port of departure. Siev X sailed from Indonesia, it had an Indonesian crew. It sank not far from Indonesia in their area for search and rescue. Indonesian fishermen rescued the survivors and landed them in Indonesia. Why should not a memorial be put up in Indonesia? Much more fitting than Canberra and others may get the message that the voyage to Australia is dangerous.

Surely no one wants further people to risk all in such voyages.