My bad, Belly. It should read fifty thousand.

Maximillion, the claim that the overstayers assimilate while boat people stand out is the reddest of herrings. We don't know how boat refugees behave because they're immediately shipped off to detention.

It sounds more like every time you see someone obviously foreign you assume they're a refugee, and not a student or hospitality worker that's on the lam from their visa.

Sancho,
Actually, if my memory serves me right, there are about 500,000 overstayers or illegal immigrants here at any one time. Most are simply tourists that have simply overstayed their visa and they fly out and are replaced by other overstayers. A small percentage when one considers the number of tourists and visitors and they are spending money while they are here.

The ones that arrive without proper docs. are called 'illegal entrants' and are sent packing ASAP.

I do not know how many longer term 'illegal immigrants' there are or how many students dissappear after their courses are finished. If you have any accurate info on that, it could be interesting.

I did read your link to the news item, but cannot find anything official about it either on the Immigration website or the Ministers website. Noted that it did not quote any source. I have emailed the authors seeking confirmation, but may have to contact the Ministers office.

It could be significant because it is a big change and if correct lots more may come here on tourist visas and simply stay, also could promote a much larger false docs. industry here in false medicare cards and tax file numbers. The unfortunate thing about illegal immigrants is that they are nost vulnerable to exploitation from unscrupulous employers, landlords and others. Women exploited in sweatshops and as prostitutes.

At present the illegals are caught up with, probably through intelligence and we will always have some that decide to stay after coming as tourists, etc. and unless we become a police state that will remain so. I feel particularly for the women in sweatshops and the sex slaves. I think more could be done to help them as most are lured here under false pretences.

Ma:
“We don't know how boat refugees behave because they're immediately shipped off to detention.”
And from there the majority come here, as previously attested, so, yes, we do

“It sounds more like every time you see someone obviously foreign you assume they're a refugee, and not a student or hospitality worker that's on the lam from their visa.”

If I thought it worth it, which I don’t, I’d ask how the harengleflarb you arrived at that conclusion. This town of mine is more full of every race and colour than any other city in Oz, lol, I listen to voices before I even attempt to guess where someone’s from, and even then I’m often wrong! The only problem I have with others of any type, is the number our Gov’ is allowing in. As long as they adapt to our way of life, I don’t give a rodents posterior who or what they are, end of.

Well children, you are going to have to open your doors even more
in future. For a new trend has started.

India, China, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, fearing food
shortages in future, are simply leasing large chunks of Africa
to grow the stuff for their increasing populations back home.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/5673437/India-joins-neocolonial-rush-for-Africas-land-and-labour.html

No doubt those in power will cash in the lease money and more
landless Africans will be the result, kept alive by Western food
aid, or potentially refugees for Australia, if they had any money,
like those who can afford the trip to Australia. But of course
those ones don't touch your heartstrings, for they don't ussually
appear on Australian tv.

Nobody seems game to name figures. How many would you like, Mister?
5 million, 10 million ? There are plenty out there, all
needing a home.

And the illogical, misinformed paranoia continues.

Seems like Indonesia is fishing for a bigger handout from the Australian taxpayer.

You can either accept that despite all the best intentions or hopes, things are always changing and deal with things as they happen - or you can stand on the shore like King Canute and try to hold back the tide.

Then again you can do something to address the cause.

You can build a fence at the top of the cliff or just park an ambulance at the bottom.