Just to make it simple for Paul,
When the boat is intercepted the amount of fuel is checked.
If they are closer to Indonesia than Christmas Island you ensure they
have enough to get back, but not enough to get to Christmas Island.
That is a difficult judgement when not knowing the weather or the
efficiency of the engine etc.

So you tow them to within say 5 to 50 miles of a suitable port and leave them there with that amount of fuel.

There are many variations on the above theme that could be used and I
am sure those with more experience than any of us, except perhaps
Hasbeen, would know the best way.

Good onya indy!
Quick and spot on.
Following my view some truly silly things are being said here.
You proved it!
How do these not of Indonesian birth or back ground get to that country?
They, refugees, use the stupid United Nations garbage to *pretend to be refugees*
While in truth being or wanting to be *Financial Migrants*.
YES! corruption is rampart in that country.
Money is made sending the boats here, BUT that country is not asking them to come.
We can not, at our level of miss understanding, tell that country what to do.
300 million vs 22 million? if some here had their way we would be the refugees!

@Paul

<<there is no quick fix to what is a complex predicament. Australia is not going to resolve the issue alone; we very much need the cooperation of others within our region, particularly Indonesia.>>

Now who’s living in Cloud Cuckoo Land, ay?
Yes negotiate with Indonesia, do a bit of arm twisting even, but don’t kid yourself about (a Gillard/Green style) “regional solution”
Absolutely NO ONE in the region wants these illegals.
The *regions* only contribution to a solution will be, perhaps, corralling them for a time then passing them onto Oz.

<<At the end of the day we are going to have to make changes to out refugee policies yada yada yada ...>>

What airy fairy stuff!
Remember when were told that if we lifted out quota it would stop the flow.
Well we did –and we did it again –but it didn’t even dent the flow.
Even if our quota was 1,000,000 pa it wouldn’t stop it
The only REAL SOLUTION is to take away the incentives--the easy approvals.
And undercut their support base –starting with finding underemployed Greenies something more useful to occupy their time.

There is a golden rule. "He who has the gold makes the rules."

It is clear that Indonesia:
a) would prefer that the refugees are not returned to port,
b) would like the human trafficking trade stopped,
c) resents seeing its citizens locked up for 5 years,
d) cherishes its relationship with Australia.

It is also clear that while Juliar and the ALP are running the show and poisoning the well and telling everyone how bad turning the boat around is, that it is clearly in the interest of indonesians to agree.

However, as private conversations that the coalition has had, it is clear that the issue is not set in concrete. Once Abbott is PM, there every chance that a real solution to the Labor stuff up can be found.

SM,
I hope that what you say is true;
"However, as private conversations that the coalition has had, it is clear that the issue is not set in concrete. Once Abbott is PM, there every chance that a real solution to the Labor stuff up can be found."

If the Coalition can come up with a solution that is acceptable to all, and saves lives, we should be thankful to Abbott an co. I doubt the solution will come from the throw away line "I'll turn the boats around." but from hard diplomatic work. P/s i was talking to a Liberal candidate on Saturday, a bloke who is expected to win a seat from Labor and I was impressed by his understanding of the refugee problem and he is well aware of how difficult the solution is going to be under a Coalition government, but agrees a solution has to be found.

SPQR There is no "quick fix" solution to what is a very difficult problem. the variation on the "gun boat" theme would only invoke condemnation, something Australia doesn't need or want.

Once a pone a time in reality land the country,s used as footpaths by refugees got together.
Not one of them in truth wanted those travelers, so they looked for an answer.
Those from silly land said no! you keep the lot! but most stated the trip to get there.
It was said in silly land the streets had Social security checks fluttering around every place.
And so they kept coming.
At a meeting the regional country,s, said hey! no matter what country has them we get them here first.
Silly land, how silly, said hang on, if we send some back to the end of the que.
But take more of yours, if the rich see the cash they pay is wasted, will it stop?
Some in silly land think no! so want to kick the giant land to their north in its shins till it puts silly land before its self.