Dear SPQR,

You're a real enigma because you do tend to surprise.
And that's great. Boredom is bad for me.
However I am trying to get a mental picture of you
as well. Are you of Italian ancestry? That would
explain the SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus - Senate
and People of Rome. Plus it is the motto for the City of
Rome). Or are you from the UK where London market
trader's stalls have the SPQR signs (Small Profits,
Quick Returns)?

Just curious.

Poirot,

I agree that the temporary housing on Nauru are probably below the standard the middle class economic migrants are used to at home.

Goodness gracious, after investing $10,000 with their (criminal) travel agent they really ought to have had a room like the Sheraton Mirage. Of course had they bought a cheaper airfare they could have had that too.

It matters naught that thousands of Australians manage to exist without airconditioning. Other Aussies are given blankets because life on the streets is cold in July. After the Brisbane floods many people still cannot afford to rebuild their homes and are couch surfing with friends and relatives.

You and Lexi are just indulging in your usual parlour game of sledging Australia and Australians. Have either of you ever written anything positive about Australia, or without a disparaging sting in the tail?

'housing are' should be 'housing is'

Thanks to all for forgiving lapses of editing.

I have made a few predictions here, some have come true.
I will be kind and not name those who said Rudd would never come back.
And those who said if he did it would fail totally.
But hold me to this.
PNG plan will work, within no more than two weeks a continuing transfer of boat people to that place will slow the flow.
I have an interest, can not hide it, just how if this was not to work would an Abbott government stop them.
Remember a basic, Tony Abbott is uninterested in stopping the boats, yet.
And by his actions is trying to see the flow continue.
And some say Kev is a fraud!

....I will be kind and not name those who said Rudd would never come back.

Hold the phone Belly, you said exactly that yourself.

Now I'm going to make a prediction, that being that Kevin Rudd, and labor will not win the election, because I am afraid he has caused too much grief to too many and wasted too much of our money, waste that has seen too many of our own people go without, especially our elderly, as they most certainly didn't work hard only to end up on the scrap heap, victims of wasted opportunities.

The focus is wrongly directed. Some of the people smugglers who helped Jews escape from Nazi occupied Europe were nasty pieces of work. They sometimes murdered and robbed people They stripped them of their assets. etc. However, they were not the main villains. The villain was the Nazi Empire.

At present the main villains are the Taliban oppressing the Hazaras in Afghanistan, the Thais oppressing the Muslims, the Sri Lankans oppressing the Tamils etc. Desperate people trying to flee those monstrous regimes employ people smugglers. There are so many (an estimated 46M) that Australia cannot take them all in. However, Australia getting together with the US, Canada, Brazil and other countries could take them all in. Let the diplomat Kevin Rudd get together with other countries which have signed the refugee convention and take the refugees in in addition to trying to do something about the oppressive gov'ts and groups that cause people to flee.