*The problem is, those values of border protection are inconsistent with the values Australia has undertaken in the 1951 UN Convention on refugees*

That is exactly why Australia should withdraw from the convention
or push for it to be brought up to date. This same problem exists
all over Europe, as people seeking a better life, much like
Mexicans flooding to the US, flood Europe under claims of asylum.

Sadly nobody has the testicles to tackle it full on and bring
about the required changes globally.

Ludwig

"Boy oh boy CJ, who got out of the wrong side of bed this morning then ?!?"

I doubt CJ got out of the bed any differently to any other morning, Ludwig. He's obviously as tired as I am though of seeing you sweep into these refugee debates every time and make the same black and white pronouncements, as though the solutions are just so simple if only we poor blind souls could see them as clearly as you do. With the greatest of respect, you're beginning to sound as much like a cracked record on this debate, as you do on the issue of population control, which as you know I agree with you on, and I'm sure CJ does too.

This debate is not nearly as open and shut, and I doubt very much that your position is a fully informed one. Either that, or you don't care that your preferred policy position results in people drowning when boats are turned back, and people losing their sanity in indefinite detention and on TPVs, which preclude them from working to support themselves. Punitive measures will not stop the boats when the 'push' factors are strong, as they are right now.

The boats are coming because of escalating insecurity in the world's troublespots. Numbers of boat arrivals are increasing in all countries, not just Australia. The fact that the Rudd Government has overthrown some of the most punitive aspects of the Howard detention regime might be influencing a few of the Mr Bigs in the people-smuggling business, but it's not a major factor, and certainly not for the desperate people caught up in the trade through sheer necessity, rather than a ruthless eye to profit.

Many asylum seekers from Iraq and Afghanistan actually prefer to go to Europe. They often have no idea where they'll end up when they jump on those boats and many have never heard of Australia. Most have no idea about the change of government, let alone the change of policy.

Unlike some here, Ludwig, you do have a heart. Please listen to it. :)

*Unlike some here, Ludwig, you do have a heart. Please listen to it. :)*

Translated from Bronwyn speak Ludwig, that means that you should throw
all reason out the window and let your emotions dominate.

Just focus on how you feel. Just be emotionally engulfed and feel
better, you can always rationalise the rest away later, no matter
how irrational it actually is.

Ah, life is so simple, when we just follow our feelings and close
our eyes. Reality just goes wooooosh. Yipeee, all gone :)

God, is it true? We even have people teaching uni courses on how to be nice to these bludgers.

Perhaps it's time to put a lot of these useless idiots, cluttering up our uni's limlimited space, on a leaky boat to anywhere else but here.

It's interesting we have 2 articles bleeding all over these bludgers, followed by one suggesting we must stop breeding, to save the planet.

Well, if we have to limit our population, I'll have borders of steel, & more maternity wards, any time thanks.

yabby, to have a heart is not to give up on reason, but it is to recognize that there are people involved, and people in the main who are simply seeking a better life. and the vast majority of asylum seekers are legitimate refugees, even as judged by the dodgy legal process set up to evaluate them.

your pointing to a legitimate social and political issue does not take the humanness out of these "bludgers". the demonizing of asylum seekers was one of howard's most disgusting acts. to see turnbull and his team resort again to such swill politics is truly depressing. the lack of empathy for these "bludgers" shown by some of the posters here is equally depressing.

and for what? so australia ends up with a few hundred or a few thousand extra refugees. big fat hairy deal. europe has a big problem: for us, the problem is trivial in consequence.

bushbasher,
Kudos to the voice of compassion!