If the asylum seek issue was the only issue that labor had stuffed up, well they may get a little sympathy but seriously how can anyone forgive this incompetent government any support what so ever. ,

Voters prior to the next election will need to
pick apart both Labor and the Coalition's
policy platforms and decide which offers Australia
the brightest future.

If the Coalition will present robust policies to
answer Labor's that's what people will ultimately
decide for themselves.

Unfortunately to date we haven't had any political
discourse all we've had from the Coalition has
been a ludicrous slanging match with easy point
scoring.

To date - slogans like
"scrap the tax," or "stop the boats,"
followed by censure motions to shut down
"Question Time," in Parliament, seems to be all
the Coalition has been capable of.

The policy debate needs to
move to the front pages of our newspapers -
and let voters see the full picture.

Pity the electorate never had a chance to pick apart Labor's carbon tax policy.

We can do no better to find out the state of Australian politics than read this thread.
While bitter and biased as usual, Individual at least admits this is an attempt to fix the issue.
I truly think, yes honestly, SM only trys to mask the issue, even changing direction of the thread.
This is, an attempt to FOREVER put in place a scheme, that both party's can live with.
A regional one.
If not this what?
If not regional, supported by the region what.
What would be the outcome if we ignore Indonesia stated opposition, by sending boats back to their country?
Or if they walked on our wishes like that?
Say what you will, while some are unaware of the details,SM knows Howard's advisers are Labors advisers, and say Nehru will not longer work.
Dennie it, but it is true, Rechtub, other than blame Labor,mostly true, what value in ignoring a possible long term solution do you get.
If we find the rubbish bin tipped on our front door do we forever argue who did it, or first clean it up.
Sir Winston Churchill said words to the effect a five minute conversation with a voter is the best argument against democracy.
Here in any conversation about politics he has his point proved for him.

Sir Winston Churchill said words to the effect a five minute conversation with a voter is the best argument against democracy.

Belly, what he would have said was something like, "if you don't stop sending these ILLIGAL boats to our shores, we will sink them, along with the people on them."

But back then, men were men and political correctness was not even a word, let alone a hand brake for every day life.

Often the best way to honestly assess a situation is to reverse it's effect and see how they would deal with us turning up there, in the thousands, uninvited.

They would most likely shoot illegals, or at least lock them up in some whole in the ground, where as we put them up, pay them three times what our own retirees get paid and expecting them to contribute towards society seems to be a dirty word.

Now while I am not suggesting we shoot them out of the water, we must turn/tow them back and, if their boat doesn't make it, well, that's not our fault because they all knew the consequences of their actions before boarding.

We are as weak as water in this joint, evidence being in the fact that we take so much notice of every piss fart little minority group that decides life is not fair.

Now if you don't believe me, I invite you to turn up on their shores illegally and see how you fair.

You must remember a couple of things here.

One, they didn't come like this prior to labor, and two, the only reason they come now is because we are as weak as water.

For god sake, give us someone with some balls!

rehctub,

Nonsense! - Britain accommodated many refugees (as did other countries) during the Great War, the inter-war years, and in the onset an outbreak of the Second World War.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/refugees-minorities.htm

How big of you not to suggest that we shoot them out of the water.
"...if their boat doesn't make it, well, that's not our fault..."

Your represent petty, officious, small-minded and pitiless humanity - the middle-class scourge of modern society - sickening in the extreme.