Dear Shadow Minister,

We realise that your party has an over-
riding desire that people coming to this
country do so in a controlled fashion.
That this is not just a legal principle of
sovereignty, but a humanitarian one to
ensure people don't cross the dangerous
waters between SE Asia and Australia in
unsea worthy vessels. However don't you
think that placing them on an island -
that last time cost Australian taxpayers
in the billions ( over 600,000 per person)
not counting the terrible mental afflictions
that they suffered - and guaranteed them
entrance to Australia anyway - don't you
think a repeat of this process - especially
now that conditions have changed globally -
is such a wise idea? Really?

More than your usual party mantra would be
appreciated.

Shadow Minister want's a return to turning back boats or, when we can't get away with that for maritime safety reasons, we take them to an island where they are processed and virtually 100% get residency. What's the point of the island, how does it offer something seriously different to mainland detention which results in the same near 100% success rate?

The island has nothing to do with anything. Turning boats back in contravention of UN obligations is what did the trick and that's what the euphemism "Pacific solution" boils down to. Been there and done that with SM to the point of nausea and refuse to bother any further with someone who just chants the mantra however much the facts or Immigration Dept disagrees with him . So, don't hold your breath Lexi, which I'm sure you're not.

The Greens have a choice, which it appears they are too sentimental, soppy and naive to exercise, as to whether or not they want to continue their influence in determining government policies after the next election. Their present attitude is as stupid as a suicide bomber's, thinking they can change the world by entering paradise.

Hi Belly,

We have much common ground on this one.

The vast majority of west Asians ( Iranians /Iraqis / Afghanis/ Pakistanis) start their trip to OZ by jetting into Malaysia.

They have to had “papers” to jet to Malaysia!

They ditch their papers soon after arrival.

The story that they never had any papers is a nonsense –and the refugee activists/Greens know it.

I remember when SBS ran their atrocious beat-up “Go Back to Where You came From”. When they allowed their token “refugees “ to speak for themselves, they said [QUOTE] “We got to Malaysia”

No one from SBS asked: But, how did you get to Malaysia?
The SBS commentator immediately jumped to the: we-are-poor-fellows-theme.

If you had spoken to captain Emad a month ago. He would have told you that he was a poor-fellow “refugee” with no papers and no place to go.
The funny thing is that when faced with possible prosecution/jail he was able to jet out of the country within 24 hours

Lexi,

For someone that supposedly relies on facts, the Pacific solution cost a tiny fraction of what it is costing the Labor government today. The cost of $500 000 per person was when Nauru only had a handful of people, and the "damage" that the 4 boat people in detention in 2007 compared to the 1000s today is minimal. Pull the other leg!

What we have now is rampant abuse of the UNHCR agreement where "refugees" are given the benefit of the doubt, and come with no papers and a fabricated story.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/boats-keep-coming-and-the-real-cost-keeps-rising-20120610-20471.html
Those taking part in this debate would be best served by reading the link.
Always an emotional subject, always at least for some heated, this some what raw story will bring those feelings out again.
I ALP every inch, can not avoid this truth, we mucked it up.
Watch the defense, the truth, Abbott too mucks it up, but we empowered his muck up.
Look at the costs!
We spend enough to house every Aboriginal , to build a new dam to build a new international airport.
We waste it, every cent.
IF Greens will not buy pass Conservative road blocks,LABOR Must BY PASS THE GREENS!
Today.
Get Abbott,a man who puts himself before country this day! and AGREE TO HIS TERMS!
Push every thing back, next sitting of Parliament and pass legislation to stop the boats.
The world is not fair, it is not nice, Australians in massive numbers have had enough, economic refugees arriving uninvited are hurting us.
Show me the concerns for our own, living still in shanty towns, while we spend BILLIONS because of politicians EGOS.

*What we have now is rampant abuse of the UNHCR agreement where "refugees" are given the benefit of the doubt, and come with no papers and a fabricated story.*

That has been my point all along, SM. So when will our politicians
show some backbone and openly admit it and set about to update
the UN agreement? Tony Blair raised this years ago and its been
a massive problem for Greece, Spain, Italy and other countries
being flooded from Africa. No doubt its not helping their financial
calamity either.

Perhaps here we need some bipartisan discussions locally between
the big two parties and finally bring about changes long overdue.