SPQR - You are right, I have stated many times the TRUE COST is being hidden by having charities etc look after them and there are many more costs to the taxpayer that are hidden or not accounted as applying to asylum seekers.

Crazy thing is Abbott must know this but does not bring it up in Question time in parliament.

Also I would love to see the statistics of how many have stayed on welfare for the whole time since they arrived. I bet that would be a lot of the more than 32,000 that have come in the last few years

So far in 2013 seven boats have arrived with 350 or so people, of that only 1 was reported in the mainstream media.

Juliar how did you get them to stop reporting every boat?

Here you go people....

Our Young Australian of the Year - and not just a token gesture.

Imagine if we encouraged a few more like this - instead of damning them and their families.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-25/afghan-refugee-azimi-named-young-australian/4484958

Poirot - Not a very good argument in your favor because only a very small percentage are school age children (11 YO) with there family. This group tend to assimilate better.

95% on most boats are men aged around early 20's to late 40's.
I could include a nice list of crimes committed by these ones, but I am sure you have seen a lot of them.

Since August 13th over 10,000 have arrived.

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says new Australian citizens are changing the country for the better.

Offering a message of empathy to those feeling anxious about change, Mr Abbott said it should be in accordance with Australia's customs and traditions.

"Sometimes, those of us who have been here for a long time get a little bit anxious about the changes that are taking place in our country," Mr Abbott told an Australia Day breakfast and citizenship ceremony in Adelaide on Saturday.

"It should be change in accordance with the customs and traditions of our people."

Mr Abbott said he cherished the cultural diversity of Australia.

"Above all else I cherish our unity," he added.

"And by looking to become Australian citizens you are celebrating that which we have in common.

"It is a proud people that you are joining."

Mr Abbott said Australia had come a long way from its convict past.

"We have demonstrated to the wider world that is possible to bring unity from diversity," he said.

"It is possible to have harmony in a very diverse multicultural society."

SPQR - They ever chartered a plane to bring ONE sick refugee from Christmas Island to Australia - Bet they would not do that for an Australian citizen.

Also those planes have lots of Federal Police on board hate to see the bill for there overtime.