Nauru stopped working effectively when the people smugglers realised that most people sent there were accepted as refugees, either by Australia or other Western countries. The boat numbers were on the rise again.

I don't understand why the Coalition didn't support the Malaysia solution. It was effectively the same policy but with a more effective deterrent. The UNHCR membership argument is a red herring because membership doesn't guarantee adherence (Australia's own mandatory detention policy is an example of this). If the Malaysian authorities can prove compliance to standards acceptable to Australia, it should be a non-issue.

It is clear in their own policies that UNHCR guidelines aren't important to the Coalition, so obviously this is all just political game playing. Apparently they care about the well-being of people getting into boats to make the perilous journey, while at the same time have advocated to tow these boats back to international waters...

While I disagree with the policies of mandatory detention (particularly of minors), off-shore processing and obviously towing boats back, I don't have the answers for preventing people risking their lives. However, if both major parties want off-shore processing, clearly the Coalition should have supported the Malaysia Solution. It certainly would have been more effective than Nauru.

No Trashcan man, they towed them back to Indonesian waters.
From what I remember about it they patrolled the international
waters then towed them back to Indonesian waters.
Once back there they would not have enough fuel to get to Christmas Is.
I remember that some of the boats were so decrepit they were not able
to stand the strain of towing and they had to take them on board.

Returning boats could not be refused entry because they are Indonesian vessels.
Also their last port of call was in Indonesia.

SM,

I strongly object to your calling me and others
who don't happen to agree with your take on things
as "deniers." We're trying to deal with facts -
not politics. However, I realise that I am wasting
my time with you. You prefer to only see things
from your party's point of view - no matter how
skewed that may be.

The following website gives a rather good summary.
Presenting both sides on this issue:

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2880632.html

This is a predictable tactic by labor. Since when and how does a boat accident in another country have JS to do with us no matter what the reason for the boat leaving port ?. What next, we blame ourselves for a boating accident in a race from Chile to Sydney if the boat blows up in a Chile harbour ?. For pity sake, get a grip and use some common sense people. This further proves the idiotic length labor will go through to prove their point, all reason and sense get thrown out the window.

pepper I think you should take a deep breath re read your post and put more thought in to future ones.
However you join SM in an elite list of those who miss inform.
This tragic event saw first the Federal opposition say it should not be politicized, then used as a club against Labor!
Both sides, AND MOST OF US, understand, the boat may not have left if offshore processing had been in place.
And both sides too want that to take place.
Now you, your side, have Labor pinned on its back.
Without Conservative support only the Greens win.
And a thousand more boats will surely come.
GREAT FUN! for conservatives, A TOOL, to flog Labor.
Will you think that after you win an election, break commitment after commitment and NEED LABOR to not act as you do?
CONSERVATIVES are telling my country its welfare is secondary to Abbott's wishes.
Australians will waken to him and those like you.

Lexi,

A "denier" is someone who continually claims something didn't happen in the face of overwhelming evidence. Susan Metcalfe is a refugee advocate who is not known for presenting both sides.

Financial year - boat arrivals

99/00 - 4175
00/01 - 4137
01/02 - 3039 <- pacific solution implemented.
02/03 - 0
03/04 - 82
04/05 - 0
05/06 - 61
06/07 - 133
07/08 - 25
08/09 - 1033 <- Pacific solution removed.
09/10 - 5609
10/11 - 4940 <- Malaysian solution announced.

Blind Freddy can see that the Pacific solution worked. As far as I am aware, world peace did not break out between 2001 and 2008, so what lame excuse can you provide for these dramatic figures.

Belly,

Given the figures above, there is overwhelming evidence that the pacific solution worked, and Juliar has the option of going with her immigration minister's advice and accepting the coalition's offer.

The Labor government has made it clear that the nation's welfare is secondary to Juliar's politics. Juliar after screaming for a decade that the pacific solution didn't work, is now faced with choosing between saving face or saving lives.