lexi,
You said. "Billions spent on detention centres?
Yes - the Pacific Solution did cost the taxpayers
a fortune and did not stop the boats.
As we all know".

That lexi, is a fabrication, a distortion. You don't have to make things up, just be honest.

The Pacific solution did stop the boats and the Howard government is given credit for that.

The Rudd government put the people smugglers back in business with their changes and closing down of Nauru. Encouraging thousands to make the journey to Aus. About 200 have died thus far in trying, so their blood is on Labors hands. That is compassion for you.

How much has this government spent/wasted in the last few years?

I am writing slowly so a couple can keep up.
This thread, one I started describes the failure that is Gillard.
It is my view, strongly held, the need to invent lies and half truths is not needed
POKER TAX? gee! cash for clunkers got a run yesterday, not one cent was spent it never started, it however supports my view Gillard is a Goose.
A quick dip, in the brand new as yet unused London Olympic pool, by one contributor would instantly turn it to mud!
Do my Friend Lexi as you wish, but that person is not here, in a thread that I take his side, to talk.
Rest with this thought.
Abbott/Gillard both are not going to be around as leaders much longer.
Weird but true they, two failures are the only reason each survive!
PS Gillard lost the Sydney grand final, its the only mud they have not thrown yet!

Banjo,

Things are so bad for labor that lefties are having to dream up a fantasy world for themselves, where Labor is the champion of the poor, and a sound hand at the till.

In this dream world, Abbott is an evil dragon, who regularly beats his wife and daughters, Julia Gillard always meant to introduce a carbon tax and said so, the pacific solution never worked, and the Malaysian solution was welcomed by the boat people who happily queued to get to the well protected paradise.

Reality is not their strong suit.

Dear Banjo,

A couple of things.

Broken election promise?

All parties promised things before the last election.
But the electorate rejected a Gillard Government
and an Abbott Government and gave the nation - eventually -
a coalition of Greens, Labor and Independents.

Surely it was obvious during the horse-trading after
the polls had closed that whoever led whatever coalition
was formed would be unable to do everything they could
do in a majority government.

The conservatives and the Murdoch media continually
saying "broken promise" does not make it so.

As for the so called "carbon tax," arguments. The closer
you look at Abbott's "direct action," the sketchier
it appears. Much of this policy is based on untested
and scientifically dubious assertions that as much as
85 million tonnes of carbon can be locked up in
Australian farmers' soil. And because direct action relies
on government spending to achieve pollution reduction, its
obviously subject to other budgetary considerations
each and every year.

In other words, to pay for this uncosted policy, an
Abbott government would either have to cut
government spending in other areas, or raise taxes.
Mr Abbot has steadfastly refused to explain which it
will be.

The Pacific Solution? Australia spent about a
billion dollars processing 1637 boat people on Manus
and Nauru (Do the maths: it's a horrifying $600,000
per head). Some rotted on the islands for more than
five years; some went mad waiting; but in the end,
the largest single group of people fed through the
Pacific Solution ended up where they were always
heading: Australia.

Dear Banjo,

Wouldn't it be good if we could discuss
Australian politics in the interest of
Australia and its people, instead of
constantly arguing about Party politics
and throwing accusations.

Forget about Labor, Liberals, Nationals,
and Greens and follow the example of the
Independents whose interests are Australia
for the Australians.

Now that would be something worthwhile doing!

Banjo,
Lexi is correct - depending on what you think "stopped the boat means".

If you think it means that the boats stopped arriving, you're right - just like total movements slowed worldwide during that period when it looked like the Taliban were beaten.

However if you think it means that the boats stopped leaving Indonesia soley because of the Pacific Solution you're wrong.

Boats still actually left Indonesia - it's just that they were intercepted by our Navy and towed back into Indonesian waters. This annoyed the Indonesians immensely and Rudd paid the price later on with the Oceanic Viking episode.

Towing is no longer feasible because they scuttle their own boats and have to be rescued. The Sri Lankan boat people situation was also something that Howard didn't have to face.

Beyond mere spin and fanciful wishful thinking, exactly how is a restoration of the "Pacific Solution" going to overcome this?

It's like Moir's cartoon in the SMH last Friday - Abbott thumping the table and asking "But apart from a Nationwide Health Scheme, the NBN, Trade Education Cetres, a National Curriculum, School buildings, paid maternity leave, a world-leading economy, record unemployments and record spending on infrastructure, what has the Labor Government done for Australia?"