Dear Banjo,

I went to your reference. It did not maintain that the boat people have committed a crime. It stated:

"Immigration detention is not used to punish people. It is an administrative function whereby people who do not have a valid visa are detained while their claims to stay are considered or their removal is facilitated."

The government makes the point that 'immigration detention is not used to punish people'. If they had committed a crime punishment would be appropriate. However, being on a boat heading for Australia or even landing on Australian soil is not a crime whether or not one has proper documentation.

David f;
In case you missed it or did not understand.

It is a law incorporated in the Migration Act 1958.

If you want to look it up, 'Unlawful' has the same meaning as 'illegal'

So no ammount of spin changes anything. Arrivals without a valid visa are 'illegals'

Our migration officials are nicer than me and refer to the illegals as 'Unlawful entrants' or Irregular entrants'. Either way they are illegal and we can and do detain them.

Sheez, some people are thick.

david, can you not get it. People that arrive in Aus without a valid visa ARE BREAKING OUR LAWS and we can and do lock them up for that.

That is an offence for which they can be prosecuted in a court of law.

However, because we are nice people, if such people apply for asylum we do not proceed with prosecution. We detain them and assess (ha ha) their claim and if not successful send them packing.

Dear Banjo,

Our immigration officials are not only nicer than you, but they are also aware of what is a crime and what is not a crime. They can also spin words. I agree that unlawful is the same as illegal. However, an act is neither illegal nor unlawful unless a crime has been committed. The proper wording would be to refer to the boat people as undocumented aliens who are in detention until a determination has been made whether the government decides to allow their request for entry into Australia. They have committed no crime, and the government does not contend that they have committed a crime.

David F, every single penny spent by our governments, or should I say, wasted, is provided to them by us, Australian tax payers, so yes, we shoukd have a say in where and on what, it is spent on.

As for your assertion that we have laws, and how we deal with them, wouldnt that be nice.

Nobody knows what the time is for the crime, as most judged seem to act on how they feel on the day.

579, you seem to conveniently forget one crucial factor, LABOR CAUSED THIS MESS.

The best way to fix the illegal arrivals, is to remove what it is they come for, A FREE LUNCH.

Dear Poirot, sorry, but I just can't think like an under achiever thinks.

In all other forms of life, the more you provide, the better rewarded you are.

david f,
Look up a dictionary.

Crime: An act punishable by law

Therefore it is a crime if a non citizen enters Aus without a valid visa.

and I need a medal for patience.