Dear Poirot,
Re your post of the 9th inst. Very well said, I totally agree with your comments.
Noisy Scrub Bird.

Noisy,
You are right about a foundering boat. That is how the 'Tampa' becme involved. She answered a 'mayday' from the vessel and took them aboard and headed for the nearest port that could accomodate her. When the survivors found out she was heading to an Indonesian port the hyjacked her and forced her to Christmas Island. So instead of being thankfull for having their lives saved they hyjacked 'Tampa' to take them to their destination.

I think we should have nothing to do with such people. Best to use methods to deter them from trying to come here and put the effort into helping genuine refugees that are patiently waiting for a place.

Oh,by the way if you look up the media at the time, you will find that there were childen dropped into the ocean from previous vessel/s prior to that vessel of the 'children overboard' incident. So little wonder that the Ministers office took it that the same applied in the latter case.

For documentarys wanting to project a certain theme, facts such as the above two are left out.

Dear Lexi,
By your own measure, they are shonks.
<< If they were "shonks" as you claim - they would take the much safer option of coming by plane>>
Actually, most of those from the Middle East did take the fly option.
They flew to Malaysia –which has special soft entry for passengers flying in from Muslim countries -- then boated to Indonesia, stopped over for a little R&R, then boated on to Christmas Island. (and others fly direct to Indonesia)

<< They do so because they are desperate people>>
Yes, in the same way persons waiting outside a department store for the doors to open for end of season sales might be said to be desperate.

<< and to date have all been found to be genuine refugees.>>
“All”? Lexi.
No, not all –many are, but certainly not all.
Those who didn’t learn their stories well enough are often rejected.
(they usual have to go back to Indonesia to make a second , third or forth attempt!).

……..
Dear Noisy Scrub Bird
I really think you might have been wrongly identified .You seem totally impervious to contrary evidence –rather like, water off a ducks back

<< the immigrants who founded this great country were mostly criminals of various levels>>
As previously mentioned –the character of earlier immigrants is immaterial.The boat people are telling us they want –special entry—based on their refugee status.

<< Most immigrants came here for a want of a better life>>
As previously mentioned – a desire for a higher standard of living ( however overpoweringly strong) does qualify one for refugee status.

They are not "illegal," they are entitled to seek asylum according to the agreement that Australia has signed.
Lexi,
Does that mean a Pom or a Dane or a German of Afghan descent can come here by boat without papers & say they're from Afghanistan & then they're deemed refugees ?

Did anyone see the footage of people dying as their boat founders on the rocks of Xmas island?

This is a direct and predictable result of Labor's lax border protection policy.

noisy and individual,
Let it be clear, the boat arrivals are illegal as it contravenes Australian law to enter without a valid visa. What we have agreed to, with the UN, is that we will not prosecute for illegal entry if that person makes a claim for asylum. But we can, and do, detain them. No person entering Australia legally can be detained.

Those people wishing to promote the actions of the illegal boat people, and lure more to their deaths, put spin on the actual facts so as to paint the illegals in a better light.

The illegals whole intention is to deceive us. Take advantage of our easy going nature.