Have just scanned through the posts up to date.
It seems the posters STILL do not understand that Indonesia CANNOT
refuse entry to a returning vessel.

It is an Indonesian flagged vessel, even if not flying a flag, and is
owned and crewed by Indonesians. Also it is back at its port of departure.

It is the same as if a Many ferry went 12 miles out to sea and came
back, Australia could not refuse entry.

GOT IT ?

Lidwig,
Sorry mate, been otherwise engaged for a bit. Rudd will not be brought to book for his massive error in reversing previous policy because the cabinett agreed that Lib policy had to be wrong. It is called 'ideology'. The same reason that Labor will not introduce TPVs and open Nauru, even though this issue is bleeding them to death.
'Pride comith before a fall'

Frankly, the illegals are now so convinced that Aus is soft and stupid, I deduce it will take a lot more to deter the boats from coming now. The backdown on the 'Oceanic Viking' was another political blunder.

Lexi,
I have to give you marks for persistance, but that does not make what is in your links correct. Fraser was, and is, a fool. Hope you read Paul Sheehan this morning. He is one commentator that speaks sense and coming from the SMH it should be acceptable to you.

Perhaps we have to ask who in the AFP and ASIO are getting kickbacks to keep the boat trade going?

Seems they make no effort to police it at all.

Likewise with prostitution and the flood of Asian women here.

They can't all be doing MBAs and running their business as a 'practical project', can they?

No, our police force is on the take, big time, here, as they are with drugs too.

Dear Banjo,

I did read the article that you mentioned by
Paul Sheehan in this morning's SMH.
No surprises there. However, you should
actually look into the qualifications of
the person writing the article. Sheehan is
a right-wing columnist who always writes from
a conservative viewpoint. He's anti multiculturalism,
and has written extensively on it and our immigration
policies. His is not a balanced point of view by
any standards. Still to each his own. And if he speaks
to you - fair enough. BTW - Sheehan would make
Shadow Minister look progressive.

Lexi,

Can you challenge these figures:

"The most disturbing aspect of this comprehensive debacle is the cost. According to the budget papers for the past four years, the annual expenditure on asylum-seeker management was a few million dollars in 2007-08. It exploded to $100 million in 2008-09, then $300 million the following year, then $900 million last year, then to a projected $1.1 billion-plus in this financial year.

The total direct cost over the past three years is about $2.3 billion, a time of about 16,000 boat people arrivals, which equates to $139,000 per asylum seeker processed."

With indirect costs such as those for the legal system the number is approaching $250 000 per asylum seeker processed. Which is half what the coalition was spending, but on 50x the number of asylum seekers.

Australia sending boats back to Indonesia is far different than trying to stop a manly ferry returning to Sydney.
We should not provoke other country's, such an act is just that.
May be worth while considering just how big the impacts of our failure to stop the boats has on Malaysia and Indonesia!
They both suffer, far more than us, because of our failures.
Lexi, with respect, your view here has always been one eyed.
After the next federal election harsher views will stop the boats, without the input of those who are more caring.
And this issue will contribute to my party's fall, truth can not be avoided by wishes and dreams.