Foxy I doubt our refugee policy is going to damage our relations very much with most countries across the world in reality- it seems most of Europe isn't too far off what we're doing regarding refugees/immigrants in practice, nor is America or most of Asia.

Belly, give it a rest mate.

Your bloke, Ruddy, said exactly the same thing, before the election. It was being discussed elsewhere, that he has squibed it when the crunch came. Just like he squibed being a fiscal conservative, when required.

After getting this wave going, it might take more than turning a few around, to stop it. When do you start to call it an invasion?

You seem to miss the point Belly

'You could be condemning them to die at sea, and some of them would in fact be Christians.'

People have already died at sea under the Rudd Government. If it was Howard in Government the press would be howling. Your labour loyalty does seem to blind you.

King Hazza you missed the point totally, we are not talking about our policy but Abbott's far different one.
Hasbeen, give it a miss? have you no understanding?
I used only the mans own words to convict him, not mine.
It is remarkable that such a man claims to be a Christian.
Well in fact is a Christian.
Gather runner and a host of OLO Christian's, invite Abbott, lets hear them tell us why anyone, should be returned to a leaky boat.
Runner I miss no point.
You however do.
I am aware you do not represent modern Christianity, if you did?
The speed of evolving to a world without primitive belief in a God would triple.

Currently:

ABC Radio National , 2 January 1:00 PM reports:”Tony Abbot has vowed to turn refugee boats back out to sea if he becomes PM “

OLO Belly, Saturday, 2 January 2010 1:05:34 PM: “Did Tony Abbott truly say he would have some boat people turned back to sea if he lead us?
Just what if true would that look like to the world? [ tut –tut!]

OLO Belly, Saturday, 2 January 2010 6:00:29 PM “Abbott is fundamentally wrong, to his party and his country, in trying to buy votes he already has, with such extremist rubbish.
Our country it is said has taken in 2700 refuges in the last 12 months, those who would take less or none surely would not send them to die?” [ more tutting]

But, what if this happened?

ABC Radio National, 5 January 1:00 PM reports: “Today after a special caucus meeting, the ALP has announced that it has adopted a much tougher asylum seeker policy. From now on any further refugee boats entering our waters will be turned around and sent back…”

Then, we’d probably see this:

OLO Belly , 5 January 2010 1:01 PM “My party has shown backbone when it is needed. I know it won’t be popular with some here. But surely sixty boatloads in 12 months is too much .Surely we had to draw the line somewhere. I support my party’s stand. That rabble in opposition cannot make tough decision, they have shown they cannot lead us.
My party has shown it deserves to be in office for a hundred years, my party is already grooming Rudd junior to take over from Rudd senior and has provided extra funding to the CSIRO to clone Julia Gillard.

Refugee policy and immigration are big election issues and both sides have been guilty of swaying in the wind to see which way the tide of opinion eventually blows.

And once in government it is a different story trying to balance security and humanitarian obligations in the face of strong public opinion on both sides of the debate.

Abbott is playing on people's fears and concerns about illegal immigrants and if there is a vote in it then all bets are off and the odds against humanitarian concerns. It is hypocritical in the extreme for Abbott only the other day arguing about safety and people travelling in leaky boats and then to advocate for a policy to turn those same leaky boats around