You are forgetting one very important fact, the boats were not coming, then, enter one K Rudd.

It is 100% labor's fault that we are in this mess and, as the imcombent government, it is thier responsibility to fix it.

Now if they can't fix it, then step aside.

Labor should have a huge poster in every room, office, lunch room, even the toilets, that says, IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT!

It seems to me that part of the overall problem in
our current political situation is the continual
finger-pointing and not being willing to find
"the mean" between two extremes to solve the problem.

Rob Oakshott's Private Bill is an attempt to try to
find a solution to the problem of asylum seekers.
If our political parties can't come together and try
to find "the mean" between two extremes - they shall
be in continual dispute and they won't be able to seek
and achieve a consensus - which is the operational
principle for a sustainable policy.

Creating divisions - should not be the name of this
outmoded game and the self interest of interest groups
and antagonism between political parties should not
permeate policy-making. This "them" and "us" scenario
which is currently employed in partisan politics could
be much better used in positive pursuits.

This debate will continue in Parliament on Monday, 19th
March. We can only hope that something positive will
eventually come out of it. Although, judging from the
comments on this Forum to date - it's difficult to be
too optimistic - if attitudes here are anything to go by.

Rob Oakshott's Private Bill is an attempt to try to
find a solution to the problem of asylum seekers.
Lexi,
The Howard Government's policy was the closest to such a solution & only needed to be built upon not tearing apart. Oakeshott was part of that demolition team.

Dear Individual,

Regardless of what you believe - the Pacific Solution was
a very expensive exercise that ended up costing Australia
a fortune - and was an exercise in futility when most of
the asylum seekers ended up here anyway - with very high
costs not only financial - but in humanitarian terms.
It is very hypocritical to continue to suggest we go
down this path again - while at the same time expressing
concern on humanitarian grounds - which is what the Coalition
is doing in rejecting the government's policies. It is time
that both parties came together - to try to work out
a new solution that will be acceptable to both - it is time
to move forward - not backward - which obviously is not
acceptable to both. Repeating the same old, same old,
only results in going around in circles and in the "wedge
politics," that I was talking about previously. We need to
move on - you included.

moving on is exactly what I'm proposing, instead of progressive regress.
Let's to a deal. Let's give wheelbarrows & shovels etc to those countries which produce the refugees so they can build up their lives again. Those who get stopped we supply guns to.
That should cut back the refugee production.
The fishermen in indonesia should get paid for not bringing people across the Arafura. Imagine how much money & misery could be saved.
Those whom we do let into Australia could be sent to abandoned communities & let them build them up again. They could be become showpiece communities for many indigenous to model their communities on rather than bureaucrats.
Benefits all round. I have asked several times on OLO whom the indigenous would prefer to come here & I got no replies. I could possibly mean they wouldn't object.

Lexi you best see the humor, the gut busting belly laughs in your opponents posts.
Rechtub if you used that logic in your business no wounder you had difficulty's.
Now lets sit down round table no seat higher than another.
Union settlement time, modern day not yesterday.
I open for the employees/voters,
First let us agree, we come to this table in good faith, to resolve an issue.
All agree?
Ok that said, lets put our grievances then agree they stay in the past during further debate ok?
I say openly blame, much of it but not all, is on my side.
I openly admit that, but resolve to end this issue by consensus.
Haveing thrown our stones for the last time.
I now offer this solution we all vote for the Rob Oakshot resolution, with special agreement both the Liberal plan and Labors one will be implemented for 12 months trial.
With the single exception of turning boats around at sea.

No chance of our opponents agreeing exists Lexi, one wants to use the issue, one does not understand it and the other would rather flog the ALP than fix it.