The idea behind the death-of-a-thousand-cuts was that no single wound would be fatal, but collectively they’d incapacitate the victim.Our border controls have undergone a similar ordeal.

There are at least three points where we could staunch illegal maritime immigration:
1) Discourage accomplishes.
2) Toughen scrutiny , &
3 Reduce entitlements.
And each one has been effectively castrated.

This how we *discourage* their accomplishes:
1) Pay the smugglers full legal costs.
2) Pay them an allowance whilst in jail.
3) If they claim to be minors, we give an out of jail card and fly them home.
4) We even fund “minors” cases against us from wrongful imprisonment.
5) We take no action against activists who collude with illegal immigrants.
6) We fund groups like the Refugee Council & (David Mann’s) Refugee and Immigration Centre who are actively oppose immigration controls.

This is our *highly scrutinized* processing:
1) They fly into Indonesia/ Malaysia, then ditch their papers , and we give them the benefit of the doubt, and
2) If they don’t succeed the first time, no matter, we allow them to refine their story and try a 2nd, 3rd or 4th time with a different name: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/rejected-refugees-get-back-on-boats-for-another-go/story-e6freuzr-1226359362035 news.com.au
3) And if they still don’t pass, they may still get to stay –because many “can’t go back” . And we cannot hold them in detention indefinitely –so by default they get what they came for: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/more-than-a-thousand-iranians-risk-languishing-for-years-in-detention/story-e6freuy9-1226180501361

And then, there’s the freebies:
1) Free phone calls & emails home http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3531731.htm
2) Then a welcome pack: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/asylum-seekers-made-to-feel-at-home-thanks-to-a-10000-welcome-pack/story-fn7x8me2-122627325131
3) A place at the head of the public housing queue:
4) Easy access to university : http://www.equity.uts.edu.au/admission/special/refugees.html
5) If they are “minors” they get to bring mum out pronto http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/high-court-rules-for-afghan-refugee/story-e6freooo-1226222067060 if they are not minors no matter, mum and dad and any others will follow at a later.

The message is clear: WE ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING THE BOATS.

"If Australia does no want asylum seekers to come to Australia [by boat], it is a better way to close all the borders and THEN NO-ONE WILL COME."
http://www.smh.com.au/world/survivors-tell-why-the-boats-keep-coming-20111219-1p1td.html

The proof is there to see in the last 48 hours there have been 4 boats arrive.
The two boats that sank were in Indonesian waters yet the people were bought to Australian land. Why were they not taken to Indonesia. How many people did Indonesia rescue and take to Indonesia?
We pay millions of dollars to have the navy and customs patrol the waters whereas all they do is provide a free taxi service for the refugees, even if they are in Indonesian waters.
SPQR you are also missing a very important point we really do not know who they are. Start listing the crimes - like the refugee who assaulted 5 girls at the pool in Darwin and there are a lot more cases.

Meanwhile, many of our pensioners have to choose between either a heater, or the television, as they simply can't afford to run both.

In fact, this infux of boats could be likened to a peaceful invasion, because if they all had guns, it would be declared a war.

Thanks Mr Rudd, you're a Jem!

May I suggest the next time anyone feels like changing our world, make sure we are not happy with it first.

Well of course we are not serious about stopping the boats, SPQR.

We dangle the first prize of a cushy Western lifestyle with every
known benefit in front of their noses, if they can jump through
the hoops which we set. Then some will clearly take on the
challenge, for hundreds of millions in the third world dream of
exactly that.

The boats will stop when we stop dangling the juicy carrot.