We are a signatory to the UN refugee convention
Luciface,
Perhaps we should have a referendum on pulling out of the UN it before it totally ruins us.

On one of the boats that sank 1 Lebanese man was on the boat with his pregnant wife and 8 children.

That is a family of 11 people Taxpayers would have had to support.

Australia would have been liable to a few thousand dollars each week to support them, not wanting that burden does not make anyone racist. (put that in because someone will throw the racist card)

I have great sympathy for the children forced by the parents but none for the adults.

The only survivor of the family so far is the man.

(put that in because someone will throw the racist card)
Philip S,
No-one with an ounce of compassion can not help but feel about such tragedies but no Australian should feel guilty. I Have some time ago conversed with several Lebanese & all of them spoke of how good life was there. If you google Lebanon you'll find they have much more advanced holiday resorts & shopping malls than anywhere in Australia. Was this family forced to take this journey or were they genuine refugees ?

Knowing that there was a reasonable chance of drowning on some of these boats, who but really desperate people would risk taking their pregnant wife and eight children on a leaky boat to Australia?

You guys are absolutely heartless!
There is nothing illegal about coming to Australia seeking asylum.
I see nothing to be gained by us leaving the UN.
End of story...

individual - Quote "they have much more advanced holiday resorts & shopping malls than anywhere in Australia."

But what is the divide between a country having these things and people being able to afford to go there? 28% below poverty (1999 est)

Lebanon
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: 22.1%
Population below poverty line: 28% (1999 est.)
Is there any political turmoil in Lebanon?

Suseonline - Quote "Knowing that there was a reasonable chance of drowning on some of these boats, who but really desperate people would risk taking their pregnant wife and eight children on a leaky boat to Australia?"

That desperation can simply be that Indonesia do not give them 1 CENT - NOTHING so with such a large family Australia is the ONLY OPTION.

By the way you have already thrown out the racist card on page 3 so now you try the "heartless" line.

I would like to know how charitable you really would be if you were faced with mounting debt and your family and relatives were homeless.

Would you really be so open to accepting every beggar that stopped at your door in place of your own family members.

No Australian shout feel any guilt for this episode. My understanding is that the boat was firstly unseaworthy and secondly it was in Indonesian waters.
Are we expected to patrol Indonesian waters as well?
If that bloke with all the kids that drowned tried what he did in Australia in exposing them to the risk he did he would have been charged with child abuse, locked up and the kids placed in welfare.
Susanonline
"There is nothing illegal about coming to Australia seeking asylum."
Provided you do it in a legal way as prescribed by our laws that is.
It is a crime to land in Australia without papers or the correct invitation methodology.
The magic words "I want asylum" should be accompanied with proof by the applicant they need asylum.