This is one topic that seems to bring such strong reactions
from people. I've had my say on the topic and I will
leave you gentlemen to continue to argue the pros and cons.
The following website may be of interest:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/policies-on-boat-arrivals-driven-by-hysteria-20110508-1ee7x.html

As The Age states:

"With many bigger challenges facing Australia
it is shameful that small numbers of vulnerable and
abused asylum seekers inspire the fiercest political
debates."

Cheers.

Ah Lexi, just as I expected from you. A wishy washy feelgood
answer and a refusal to answer the hard question, despite
my specific request. You are so predictable :)

SM "Yet again, an ill considered and researched misadventure by the Labor government will cost the tax payer hundreds of Millions of dollars and achieve exactly nothing."

Nothing new in that SM..... it is the standard pattern of incomptence practiced by Whitlam, Hawke, Keating and Krudd..... before Gizzards came to sit on the "throne" (although I have heard it cakled other things

"Where to from here?"

Back to Liberal National Coalition SM.....

Back to economic competence, Consumer confidence and a growth economy

away from

gross incompetence
airyfairy nation-building schemes
factional infighting
policies disallowed by judges
conflict between the turncoat "independent" supporters who were used to cobble this abortoin of government together
and of course.... Craig Thomson

Dear Yabby,

The subtleties are lost on you aren't they.
Read the website I cited - and you just
may begin to comprehend the point being made.

BTW: I may be a lot of things - but being
predictable - I'm proud to say - isn't one of them!

Lexi,

I read the website you linked. It contains the same arguments that Labor used against the Pacific solution, leading them to shut down the pacific solution and predicting only a small but manageable increase in boat arrivals.

3 years later, that has been shown to be a huge error of judgement, as the boats increased 30 fold, and the number of people in detention swelled from 6 to 6000.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The coalition was right all along.

The Economist has some interesting articles
dealing with politics this week. It covers
the High Court decision regarding the Malaysian
Solution, it covers the complex problem of asylum
seekers, as well as a variety of other subjects,
including the rantings of shock-jocks and others,
against the government. However what is interesting
is what The Economist states by way of summation:

"The Prime Minister cannot be counted out yet.
Her negotiating skills are one of Ms Gillard's
strengths. Since the election the Government has

steered 116 bills through Parliament. The heads of
the National Bank and Westpac, two of Australia's
biggest banks, have supported the carbon tax.
Ms Gillard says she is "determined to push on with
the agenda. She has little left to lose."

It's two more years until the next election.
A great deal can happen in that time - especially
in politics. Anybody notice how much more toned-down
(pardon the pun), Mr Tony Abbott is of late?