Banjo,
Whilst we are a civilised country and signature to various agreements to do with refugees, real or imagined, our hands are tied to a fair degree as to how we handle them.
The millions currently on the move in the Middle East are causing problems for many nations apart from ourselves. It is a world wide problem.
The validity of claims will always be open to question and assumptions made from a distance will invariably be inaccurate as expected.
We do have a problem as do many nations and only a world wide response will provide a lasting solution.
Simplistic solutions will always be short term when it comes to results.
Politicians of both sides are not the people to solve the problem as their decision making is purely political and not practical. Wiser heads than theirs, mine and I dare say yours are needed to find some lasting resolution.
Take it easy.

SD

Shaggy Dog,
Your response is typical, you excuse labor from stuffing it up and claim our problem is world wide. It is not, our problem is with the current government not taking appropriate action to stop the illegals from wanting to come here.

The illegals that are coming here are not destitute refugees, they are opportunistic shonks that lie to our officials and take advantage of our good nature.

It is simply a matter of not giving them what they seek. They will not continue to come if they don't get what they want.

Don't make a simple matter complicated. We just make it tough for them. This government does not know what tough is.

I suppose I should not be surprised by the collection of half wits from the left that create straw man arguments.

The coalition is not looking at buying new boats, only old boats that are no longer fit for service that the smugglers buy, and the prices paid for these boats rescued from scrap is unlikely to stimulate the buying of new boats.

These fishing vessels are used commercially to provide and income for the owners, and typically last 20-40 years. With the loss of some boats along the way this would reduce the number coming on this market to about 20 000 p.a. Buying all these boats for about $10 000 each would cost $200m p.a. or only a tiny fraction of the about $3bn p.a. that Dudd is paying for internment or water taxi services for the human traffickers.

While this would automatically drive up the price of scrap boats, it would provide a vast source of intelligence to highlight the purchases the smugglers do make, and combined with a bounty on information, this will make it easier to stop the boats leaving. It is not a magic bullet, but yet another tactic that will trip up smugglers and cause them and their passengers to lose money, and make the trip more costly and less likely to result in Australian residence.

The alternative is the do nothing approach of Labor and the thousands dying at sea.

Banjo,

No I am not a supporter of the left or Mr Rudd. He is a good example of politicians at play.
Despite Mr Rudd decisions back a bit the situation world wide has changed and worsened and even the previous Government would now be finding things more difficult. What appeared to work back then would in all probability be as much a shambles right now.
Refugees do not necessarily have to be poor, a relatively wealthy person can lose their home, livelihood and security when civil strife takes over. The fact they may have some dollars to buy their way out to save their family and themselves does not diminish their refugee status. To stay and die along with your family is something few of us would do. Would you?
It is complex is all I am saying, and it needs wise heads to find an ongoing solution. The situation is constantly changing and no rigid doctrine will ever last.
Sensible people, not politicians and politics is what we need.

Take it easy.

SD

First of all, what garbage Shaggy Dog.

All we have to do with genuine refugees is give them shelter, nothing else.

We are not required to let them settle here, or facilitate their settlement elsewhere.

If we continue to do the UNs job for them, we most definitely should bill the UN for the costs, & stop all payments of any kind to the UN until they take over the settlement of these people.

If as is often the case, these "refugees" go back home, to get a wife or to visit, they should immediately have any citizenship or residency revoked, as they obviously were not in danger.

The onus of proof should be transferred to these people whom we know are mostly gate crashers.

Banjo that Macquarie Island idea has real merit. Should make all facilities except staff quarters from simple materials, perhaps tents, to minimize losses in a riot, & avoid making the camp a desirable holiday destination for conmen.

Hasbeen,
I agree entirely with your comments, there is such a variety of people claiming to be refugees, some are definitely not, some are but I am in no position to judge who is and who isn't. You may have the qualifications to judge but I have to leave that assessment to others neither having the wherewithal or access to that information.
We have as a country signed up to various agreements, we can withdraw but until we do so there are obligations to be met as much as many do not like to do so.
I do not argue for any particular case or position, only that we approach the situation of refugees from a professional level, not from a political or emotive level which is where it has been at from far too long.
I have no doubt it can be solved to the satisfaction of most but it will require far more finesse than one liners from our politicians and immediate vote winning statements.
Take it easy.

SD