G'day BP,

"But if we decided to adopt a slightly more lenient attitude to families risking their lives to reach Australia"

I've had some limited contact with refugees, both here in Brisbane and previously in Sydney. A sister organisation of ours runs a "sailing" experience on Moreton Bay. This allows disadvantaged youth, and at times refugees an opportunity to enjoy an experience they would never previously have had. For the adventurous its sailing, for others its inshore kayaking, or for the faint heart'd the onshore BBQ afterwards.

My point in telling you that is when you meet people who you don't know, and may have certain negative misconceptions about, with close contact, and getting to know them a little, you may realise they are rather different, in a positive way than what you thought. That's true of refugees I have met, they are not the evil "terrorist monsters" some make them all out to be. In fact, although outwardly different, underneath they are not all that removed from you and I.

Dear Banjo,

As far as Peter Dutton is concerned? - I'm sure he'll be
around for some time yet. However, hopefully, not as our
next Prime Minister. "Make Australia Afraid Again," is not
a good catch-phrase that most of us want for this country.

Dear Paul,

There's so much negativity and fear being spread about
refugees and asylum seekers. Which is unfortunate. But it's
nothing new. Most migrants have stories they could tell of
discrimination they experienced and still do. It would be
great if the media published more positivity - but I guess
negativity - sells. We should look at what unites us not
divides us - and that includes our Indigenous people.

What's all this about venting?
I thought the word was vetting?
And mhaze said it succinctly.
"If he was calling for the banning of all people from a particular RACE then that would be racist. He's not. QED."
So well said!
However, I still think Peter is not smart enough to be where he is.
I think his stewardship will lead to less that favourable outcomes.

I think it's more a case of the opponents being scared how well Dutton could possibly run the show. So, discrediting for the sake of discrediting & keeping bandwagons on the roll is the only option they really have as merit is unavailable to them. The term Potato head says more about his opponents mentality than him.
As for the looks department well, I couldn't even get membership to a party. But, give me a potato anytime over a noxious weed !

A bit of irony, its only through immigration that Australia is keeping out of recession. Migrant demand, and their added productivity is keeping Australia in the black. We need to direct those unemployed into positive production! That brings me once more to my Seniors National Service, where I was advocating a "bit of light duties" for the old, a little pot hole repair sort of thing, weed control etc. I now believe in full blown production! We need to build "mouse trap" factories in every city and town, put the elderly to work, with my idea of dormitory camps attached to these new production facilities, the old will become self sufficient and make a positive contribution. Of course we must have reward, yes a beer for the old blokes, and a piece of sponge cake for the ladies during their rest hour on Sunday afternoons, whilst listening to constant replays of uplifting speeches by Fearless Leader (that's me). Sounds great I already have Indy on board! BTW Indy, What's your favourite beer XXXX?

Under Peter Dutton’s leadership, the federal Liberal Party has taken over the NSW self-serving bunch of idiots. Left wing idiots who want to be like Labor for their own personal reasons.

John Howard's silly “broad church” has gone overboard in NSW.

In Queensland too, the same sorts of dipsticks forced Senator Gerard Rennick out of the party for thinking and doing what the Liberal Party is supposed to be about. The “broad church” appears to be experiencing a schism that won’t help it rid Australia of the worst government in Australian history.

The Liberal Party has been in a nose dive since Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Dutton is the only one available at the moment to fix it.

Dutton doesn't have to worry himself with a handful of idiots on OLO wondering if he is a “racist” and who are never going to vote for him anyway; he has to convince people who have thrown his party aside because of Turnbull and Morrison that he is not like them, and that he will lick the party back into shape.