PhilipS got it right the first time.

Some have seized on the meaning of BOARDER as one who rents a room.

However, BOARDER also carries a meaning of one who boards a ship. And it's this meaning which is apt here.

Picture one of those 1950s Errol Flynn movies where a peaceful merchant ship is coasting through tranquil sun-kissed seas. It receives a distress signal from another ship, pulls alongside to offer assistance, and a horde of ruffians --brandishing cutlasses and muskets -- appear out of nowhere and BOARD it demanding it take them to where they want to go(Somewhat akin to what happen to the Tampa and the Viking Princess).

In the first instance the BOARDERS are usually mild mannered persons who pay their host rent.
In the second, the BOARDERS are bribing, bullying, brigands who'll stop at nothing, and usually end up extracting a rent (lifelong board and lodging for them and all their kin) from their host.

And it's the latter type of BOARDER we need protection FROM. And we are not getting it from the present administration.

SPQR,

In that case, perhaps we should institute a broader boarder border?

But SPQR, that won't apply because the first post said,

"For me [rehctub], protecting our boarders should mean just that, and they should be protected by any means."

Which is the opposite of what you are suggesting.

You can laugh, joke and take the piss out of me all you like, as you won't offend me for makimg a simple spelling error.

However, call it what you like, but the imaginary line that defines where Australian waters begin is simply not being adequately policed and, if left as is, we will all pay.

God help us if and when they bring guns, cause we can't stop them when they are unarmed.

This mess must be stopped by what ever means necessary. Spell check please!

I'm not taking the piss out of your spelling - you spelled "boarder" correctly....it's just that you employed the wrong homonym for your point.

However, I think I am taking the piss out of your paranoia....and the fact we have numerous threads in the general discussion section, close together - all ranting about the same thing.

@Bonjour Poirot,

Yes, "boat people"/refugees/asylum seekers are, in comparative terms, a very minor problem, there's very little that any liberal democratic society can do. Those people who become rather hyper about the non-existent 'crisis' should try yoga or tai chi or increase the dosage.

I couldn't have resisted "boarder" either, a few months ago I was called "anti-emetic" when I criticised Israel--I had a lot of fun with that.

However, it's always wise to remember the expression "People in Glass Houses."