Life imprisonment for the captain and crew could have dire results for the passengers. In 1807 the British Parliament outlawed the slave trade. The Royal Navy patrolled the Atlantic searching for slavers. Slavers when in danger of being intercepted would throw the slaves overboard to get rid of the evidence. Draconian punishments don't always deter crime, but they usually ensure more drastic measures to get rid of the evidence. Murdering witnesses is another example.

life in prison in Australia for many Indonesians would lift their standard of living. Maybe Rudd should get life in prison for causing so many deaths.

All of the above & then some.

David f: Slavers when in danger of being intercepted would throw the slaves overboard to get rid of the evidence.

This is 2013 not 1807 & the people are not chained slaves. A lot of the men are Army deserters. I know who would be going overboard if that was attempted.

It may be that both of our main parties do not want to stir up a hornets nest by upsetting the Indonesians.
If they decided to take umbrage, then 200 million of them could walk into Australia and take over.
Better to keep them onside by giving them "aid'.

"This is 2013 not 1807..."

So tell us the difference, Jayb, as far as simple-minded bigotry goes on this forum?

Surely you're not trying to intimate that the views put forward here by yourself and others are any less insular or barbaric than those throughout history?

Exactly the bloody same.

Oh, Poirot..., Simple minded..., Bigots? We don't have to put up with these insults & name calling. ;-)

Poirot: Surely you're not trying to intimate that the views put forward here by yourself and others are any less insular or barbaric than those throughout history.

Yes.

Poirot: Exactly the bloody same.

No they're not.