The country was held to ransom by Mr Abbott, not voting for Malaysia.
Will Nauru work , Yet to be tested. There is no sure solution. If the boat people were not there immigration will continue, through invitation channels as normal.
Referendums have a dismal record when it comes to the vote. You can not have a referendum with options, yes no only. Besides a expense conscience chap like yourself would baulk at the expense.
Economic activity will slow dramatically with out money being there for them to borrow, at a reasonable rate. This is why we have a deficit, but people like butch call it waste. You can-not have it both ways.

579....Economic activity will slow dramatically with out money being there for them to borrow, at a reasonable rate. This is why we have a deficit, but people like butch call it waste. You can-not have it both ways.

Nothing like the old foot in mouth, hey!

.....at a reasonable rate.
So, tell me, is $100,000,000.00 every day your measure of 'a reasonable rate'.

Waste, sorry but we are limited to 350 words, so I sill have to cut it short and just give topics, rather than details.
Insulation, Solar, School Halls, Fuel Watch, Grocery Watch, ar what's the point, very few people are unaware of the waste overseen from this labor P M, her understudies and of cause her axed predecessor.

Malaysia, would be like to see your kids sent there without protection. There must be a reason as to why they won't sign the refugee convention.

Besides, how many boats arrived in the five years prior to Mr Rudd introdcing his grand plan?

rehctub stated;
"Insulation, Solar, School Halls, Fuel Watch, Grocery Watch,"

Insulation and school halls together with a pre-Christmas cash handout were part of a stimulus package without which unemployment levels would have shot up and much of the Australian economy would have collapsed during the GFC.

In the Hawke Government era a grocery watch system in the Hunter Valley at least helped keep the grocery supermarkets "honest".
The solar electric panels were largely a state issue where some fool(s) offered a ridiculous price for any electricity generated. Solar electricity is not, and may never be, produced efficiently .

Electricity generation and distribution and landline telephones and water and sewerage services are each natural monopolies which should be retained within the control of the people and their representatives. It is a matter of finding the most efficient way of doing that and ensuring that politicians are not exploiting the people they are supposed to represent.

579 - Don't blame Abbott for Malaysia it is a flawed negotiation BAD DEAL we get 4000 but only give them 800 people plus we have to support the 800 we give them. NO company or organization would be able to justify such a bad deal.
Abbott wants TPV reintroduced that will go a long way to stopping them as they go home when it is safe. A LOT are economic refugees looking for the big handout and welfare for life.
Remember Malaysia and Indonesia DO NOT give them anything not 1cent we give them everything for nothing.

Philip, you have no idea what Malaysia is all about. Mr Abbott would not support Malaysia because he was scared stiff it would work.
Mr Abbott lives in the Golden years as he says, with his hero Mr Howard.
But time and tide has moved on, and Nauru has yet to be tested

579 Quote "you have no idea what Malaysia is all about" Please enlighten everyone how a 5 for 1 swap plus we pay the costs for the one is good. Malaysia deal it would have to have been continually re-negotiated we have had nearly 1300 come in less than 3.5 weeks.
They would keep coming because Malaysia and Indonesia give them nothing by coming and getting sent back they at least get supported by Australian taxpayers.
Nauru wont work for the same reason Too many coming the they will get refugee advocates, lawyer and do gooders for free (bleeding heart brigade) and all supported by the Australian taxpayers.