Jay,
The quote you showed from Dr Fitzgerald;
"Australia is something of a freak in Asia, a kind of ugly duckling,

illustrates a delusion which I have discovered is being taught by our
school teachers to a generation of childeren.

Australia is NOT in Asia !
It is a simple matter of geography.
Many also are unaware that Indonesia also is not in Asia.
Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are in Oceana !
Asia is a Northern Hemisphere group of countries.

Many try to deny the geography and are also unaware that Beijing is
closer to Europe than it is to Australia.
When Nt Korea was firing their misiles much ado was made about the
threat to us, but we were out of range but Europe was not out of range.
Most journalists and political commentators need a lesson in geography, an an understanding that Mercadores projection does not
display the shape of the world. The world is a shere.
All Mercadores world maps should be removed from school walls.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/tony-abbotts-blunder-will-haunt-him-as-pm/story-e6frgd0x-1226133501269
No link I have posted in my life
Better describes my point of view.
And none ever better highlights the true Tony Abbott.
Every arrival by boat, now due to his miss use of this matter.
In the strangest way, has Tony Abbott to thank.
He an he alone, seems intent on using this issue not fixing it.

Belly,

You seriously underestimate Abbott.

Juliar always had the Pacific solution as an option, and because of hubris went for the Malaysian solution that went way beyond the pacific solution legally. Juliar now needs a solution far more than Abbott does. Abbott needs the law altered so that the Pacific solution may be re instituted again, but as a good negotiator intends to extract his ounce of flesh from Juliar.

I believe Juliar will get her amendments but will be forced into a humiliation compromise. Either ditching the Malaysian solution, but most probably implementing detention in Nauru and TPVs. This can then be used to drive a wedge between Labor and the greens.

Belly, I think you have misinterpreted that article whose link you
provided.
I don't think it would be a good idea to send them to Malaysia.
It is a moslem country and I don't think you can expect that
undertakings would be honoured.
There is also the problem of under age minors.
The problem of processing them here is that they can then say,
"We are in Australia, you cannot send us anywhere."
That is why Christmas Island was exercised from Australia.
It is an external territory.
You cannot exercise any mainland area.
Once they set foot on Australia, you cannot deny them unless you can
prove they are not under threat.

They must not be allowed onto the mainland.
That is why turning them around is the most effective solution.
The temporary visas are a 2nd best solution.

Your comment on Abbot has no meaning, it is simply a method of getting
Nauru put beyond doubt. I just cannot see what is evil about that.