Over the years I've heard it repeated on many occasions that there are more refugess and asylum seekers arriving by plane than by boat.

Yesterday morning, the Sunsrise expert on international and foreign affairs Keith Souter stated less than 1% of asylum seekers arrive by boat, arrivals by plane excced boat arrivals 100 to 1 and the whole boat arrival issue is nothing more than scaremongaring by both sides of Government.

That statistic didn't sound anywhere close to being feasible to me and this morning after some internet research I discovered the official government stats.

For the year ending Jan 31, 2013
Irregular Maritime Arrivals - 7502
Irregular Air Arrivals - 67

The myth that asylum seeker boat arrivals is not significant compared to air arrival numbers is totally busted.

sbr108 - Good work, regrettably there there are some people that just do not care about facts they are too blind to any facts and will ignore anything that does not support there belief that all refugees are genuine and good people.

Oh, really....?

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/taxpayers-wear-burden-of-60000-illegal-immigrants/story-e6frfkvr-1226200664868

Poirot - To quote you "Oh, really....?" that is all you had to say, you could not say anything else but tried to distract people with an article that is meaningless to the context of the original post.

I notice your linked article is dated November 21, 2011.

More importantly the people in the article you supplied are not on welfare and are not eligible to receive it or free legal services etc.

I am sure none of them have burnt down any detention facilities or caused $60 Million dollars damage whilst here.

It is truly stunning.
That threads like this can be so very remote from the truth.
Unauthorized? what are unauthorized statistics?
However you cut the cake it is still not something to serve up at meal time.
I note,question, and invite others to, the inference Rudd,s solution will not work.
Because we are told, thousands of people will over come our neighbor!
Is it not so very clear that already, word has reached smugglers and their customers?
A side issue or not? it seems clear *the opposition, its followers, want no end to the boats,* based on their need for props to keep our eyes away from the failure they are*.

Oh really poirot. I see you are up to the same old tricks again, deflection.

We have known of the illegal arrivals Myth for a long time. I do have a solution. When anybody applies for a Visa to visit Australia they sign a form that they are NOT going to apply for Asylum. Also on the Customs declaration there should be a tick box declaring that they are NOT going to claim Asylum. That will take care of that problem.

I have just received an email from an old Digger who just found out that he is an illegal entrant.

He arrived in Australia on his parents Passport at aged 10. He did two tours of Vietnam. He is a TPI Pensioner & he ran his own business since getting out of the Army. He applied for his Citizenship & was refused. Apparently he had two minor Drink Driving Charges in the late 70's just after DD was brought in. He has said, Bugger it. They can deport me."

So what's the story? Illegal Boat people & entrants & all sorts of criminals can get to stay but someone like him gets kicked out. Something wrong? I think so.