A prominent issue in contemporary current affairs is the asylum seeker debate. Prime Minister, Julia Gillard’s controversial Malaysia solution aimed at discouraging people-smuggling was overturned by the High Court recently declaring it unlawful. Greens Leader, Bob Brown, opposes the Malaysia solution as he does not support offshore processing. As a result to this Gillard is pressing for support from Opposition leader, Tony Abbott to amend migration laws to allow offshore processing. Opposition Ministers are confident Abbott will not accept the offshore processing tomorrow during his meeting with Gillard if Malaysia is still an option. The Coalition is pushing to change the policy to send asylum seekers to Nauru and Manus Island as he believes it is not all that different to what happened to Christmas Island. The Malaysia solution is looking more like a disaster with the left faction of the labor party questioning whether to support Gillard’s Malaysia decision. Gillard needs to rethink her options because she is not gaining support from her own party members how does she expect to gain support from the coalition to amend the Migration Act? Only time will tell whether the Malaysia solution goes ahead but at the present time it looks as though this is another turmoil idea Julia Gillard has come up with since being elected Prime Minister.

Well, here is the latest....the Coalition has rejected the PM's revised amendments.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-19/abbott-rejects-latest-migration-chamges/2906558

(also the Coalition amendment to the Migration Act)

I'm with Gillard on this one.

Nothing would stop the trade quicker than a few hundred finding themselves back in Malaysia, where they have probably come through previously.

Abbott would do better thinking of the end result on this one.

Perhaps a swap, Malaysia in exchange for dropping the carbon tax. Good for us, a black eye for Brown. I suppose it does let Julia off a couple of hooks she has currently hung herself on, so not as good for Abbot showing her as a fool.

It would make Abbott look more like a statesman, but that probably doesn't earn many votes in Oz today.

Hasbeen,

You've got a funny idea of what it takes to looks like a statesman.

ABC News: "Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rejected the Government's latest proposed changes to the Migration Act, saying they pay only lip service to concerns about protections for asylum seekers." and, later"...Mr Abbott says the Government's plan will not work, and repeated his belief that temporary protection visas, TURNING BACK THE BOATS, and negotiating an arrangement with Nauru remained the right way forward."

So, turning back the boats (to Indonesia, a non-signatory to the UN convention on refugees)shows deep concern for refugee protection? Wow, that's a lot of concern!

Nauru was ineffectual, it was turning back the boats that did it for Howard. I don't believe the majority want to revisit this?

The options before us are:
1. Onshore processing
2. Deja vu all over again
3. Malaysia

I do not believe the onshore option has majority support. Malaysia is the compromise, the best of the three evils. The people in the boats are made to wait in Malaysia for assessment while those who have been processed and already waiting there get an outcome.

Mr Abbott,you are an excellent politician but, please, show some statesmanship.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/court-suppressed-people-smuggling-link-to-jakarta-brass/story-fn9hm1gu-1226141226482
I recommend the link, it is informative and tells of just how hard the job ahead is.
It highlights things I do not approve off in this country's relationship with Indonesia.
Those not aware should research, look at the murders of 5 Australian news reporters and the government of the day, my ALP cover up.
Look too at the take over of part of New Guinea and subsequent treatment of its people.
We also should consider this,look at the idea and methods of Astro Turfing, and expand it past bots .
At such times, conflict over boats, we see brand new posters fixed to one subject who often do not stay.
Explore too Astro Turfing, it is going to be very intrusive and in fact you may, often, find your self in conversation with a bot or a human acting like one.
Long term posters should look at sad news Lexi has for us in trolls thread.