Lexi,

Michael Bachelard is a reporter, and yes, some of us have read the article too. Quite frankly one could see that as a threat to Australia. Of course, we are not privy to whether his article was written under his own auspice, or suggested it be written by Indonesian authorities.

More importantly, Rudd mentioned the word conflict with Indonesia regarding the 'boat people' problem. This would seem to suggest he has some fear of retaliation by Indonesia if we don't play it their way. If he has that fear, he does not represent all Australians. Many of us see it as bluff, and would be willing to counter that.

Yes, a regional conference would be good, and also be a delaying tactic of at least months while this was arranged, and still could have no final consensus among the participants, leaving us back to where we are now. So Rudd should think first about his own citizens, and how to stem the flood in the meantime. So far we've heard nothing from him that would reassure us, and the boats are still coming.

No, I don't have the answers either, but I think the election will show us we need a strong leader who listens to his own people first, and then act accordingly. And it is so complex it needs more than a few hastily thrown together fearful announcements by our new/old/new P.M.
Action will speak louder than words, and since when have Aussies ever bowed down to another nation in fear? Let us not start now.

Personally, I was outraged that he didn't reflect on how this nation would react to his speech. He has publicly stated he has learned to reflect before he opens his mouth and puts his foot in it, yet on the boat arrivals [which are such a large issue for this country] he would appear to be conciliatory towards Indonesia at our expense. We are the voters he is hoping will vote for him, yet I see him as already betraying us.

I think this conference of interested Nations will be a farce. The Indonesians won't accept of the illegal boat people back & they won't turn any back that arrive in Indonesia either.

That's the key. The Indo's should be turning them back when they arrive. I know that most illegal entrants arrive in Indonesia by fast ferry from Georgetown, Malacca & Mua with the help of the Malays.

According to Rudd, Last night, Indonesia is the 7th. most financially secure nation in the World & will be the 5th. by 15. If so, why are we buying their Armed forces for them? 24 Su-27's in 03. 3 Armadale Patrol Boats a few years ago, now another lot & C130’s, all for free. Alright we didn't buy the Su27's directly, but we DID give them the equivalent amount in Aid 3 months before they brought them off the Russians. We provide Millions in School Aid. We built their State Radio Station curtsey of the ABC. We give them Millions in Material Aid for their disasters, Agriculture, and Industrial Industries. The Indo say that if we tow the Boats they will regard it as a hostile act & it will destroy our relations with them. Bl00dy 'ell, so be it! & we want all our gifts & Aid back.

Policy 1 Withdraw from the UM Convention on Refugees.
Policy 2 Turn the boats around.
Policy 3 Anyone who reaches Australian soil charge them under the Criminal Code and lock the up till you deport them.
Policy 4 Bill the for our costs, they seem to have money.

Re " More importantly, Rudd mentioned the word conflict with Indonesia regarding the 'boat people' problem. This would seem to suggest he has some fear of retaliation by Indonesia if we don't play it their way."

I don't think it's a matter of retaliation by Indonesia, rather a basic question: if the RAN blocked boats close to the Indonesian border and tried to shepherd them across it, what would the Indonesian Navy do: shepherd them back to Indonesia? Or block them crossing the line? Most likely there'd be a standoff along the line of the border, and the two governments would quickly get involved. I doubt that either navy would actually shoot at the other, rather it would be a question of who'd blink first (probably us), and whatever happened would be precipitated by the actions of the crew and passengers of the boats (eg sinking them) and dependent on the weather etc. It would be a diplomatic incident rather than conflict, and the risk would be things unintentionally getting out of hand, people getting killed, and press and politicians in both countries blowing it up into a 'conflict'. I would bet that both navies have game-played this and will want to avoid it because of the risk of unintended consequences.

The worry is that either side of Australian politics might take this to the brink for political advantage. The best thing we can all do to avoid this is cool the debate, and push for a broader political/diplomatic solution, eg action along the Malaysian-Indonesian border since the problem is Malaysia rather than Indonesia. (UNHCR stats @Jan13: ca 220,000 in Malaysia, ca 8-16,000 in Indonesia.)

worldwatcher,

".....since when have Aussies ever bowed down to another nation in fear..."

Well, that's about as cringe-worthy as it gets.

Big tough Australia is more like the wimpy rich kid in the region whose only experience in real fights are those he's experienced as a back up to the Britain of the US.

In regional matters, he forced to rely on diplomacy - not tough talk.

This is a regional issue and should be handled by diplomacy...not by bravado and vacuous slogans and pamphlets bandied about by an Opposition in lieu of substance.

Worldwatcher,

Thank You for your opinion.

I feel that this is a regional problem and
the key to finding solutions lies with regional
co-operation. I admire what our PM is attempting
to do. And I feel this is a step in the right
direction. Confrontation is not the way to go.
I agree with Michael Gordon's article, "No
advantages in allowing Carr to fan asylum flames,"
in The Saturday Age, July 6th, 2013 ..." The
imperative ...is to negotiate a regional framework
that doesn't invite the suspicion in Indonesia
that Australia is simply trying to offload its
problem on to them - one that tackles the
criminality of people-smuggling syndicates
and finds safer options for asylum seekers than
boaridng leaky boats."

The PM has recognised that mistakes have been made in the
past, and as Gordon tells us - this is signalling
that everything is up for review, lowering expectations
of a quick fix. It would appear that a good start
has been made.