Dear Hassie,

The government needs to come clean on what it's doing
and stop treating voters as mugs. Blaming news sources
simply does not wash any more.

Steele and Jayb,
This must have been gone over hundreds of times here on OLO.

It is contrary to Australian law for any non citizen to enter without a valid visa. This is the only reason on which we can put them in detention, because they are breaking our law.

We do not detain persons who arrive with a valid visa, whether they seek asylum or not, and irrespective of their method of arrival.

This information is clearly available on the DIAC website should you care to look.

Which is safer, towing a possibly leaky boat 150 Nm to Christmas Island or 10 or so Nm back to Indonesian 12 Nm Limit?

Where do Asylum seeker boats come from mostly?

By bus from Jakata to Sumer Bay, Murara Binuangeun & Sindangkerta.
By plane from Citauteuren & Pengandandaran thence to Australia by leaky boat.

One Indo Patrol boat, which Australia provided to them for the purpose, in each Port would stop the boats from leaving. Maybe. The People smugglers are very good at bribing the authorities & the authorities are equally just as good at accepting bribes. (Worlds 4th. most corrupt country, remember)

The asylum seekers burnt their own hands when they found out that they were not going to Christmas Island. Shades of sewing lips together & throwing themselves on barbwire, etc. Also hitting them on the head with their shoes? This is a Middle Eastern Custom, not an Australian Custom. It is the most grievous insult that can be given to a Muslim. Who in Australia does this, most Australians wouldn't even know about the practise.

Most of the comments here are from over enthusiastic fanatic Greenies who seemingly strongly support the importation of terrorism into Australia.

A bit of CDF would tell you that the refugees are lying.

Hear is something interesting.

MIGRATION ACT 1958 - SECT 5AA
Meaning of unauthorised maritime arrival
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is an unauthorised maritime arrival if:
(a) the person entered Australia by sea:
(i) at an excised offshore place at any time after the excision time for that place; or
(ii) at any other place at any time on or after the commencement of this section; and
(b) the person became an unlawful non-citizen because of that entry; and
(c) the person is not an excluded maritime arrival.
Entered Australia by sea
(2) A person entered Australia by sea if:
(a) the person entered the migration zone except on an aircraft that landed in the migration zone; or
(b) the person entered the migration zone as a result of being found on a ship detained under section 245F and being dealt with under paragraph 245F(9)(a); or
(c) the person entered the migration zone after being rescued at sea.
Excluded maritime arrival
(3) A person is an excluded maritime arrival if the person:
(a) is a New Zealand citizen who holds and produces a New Zealand passport that is in force; or
(b) is a non-citizen who holds and produces a passport that is in force and is endorsed with an authority to reside indefinitely on Norfolk Island; or
(c) is included in a prescribed class of persons.
Definitions
(4) In this section:
"aircraft" has the same meaning as in section 245A.
"ship" has the meaning given by section 245A.

Far too many are willing to think so badly of our Navy.
But while that disgusts me.
Thought so very many have been taken in by the extremes from this issue.
Leaving the lie as powerful a weapon as in the extremes hands it always is.
How many think burning peoples hands, knowing the bruises would emerge was more likely than a kick in the bottom?
Lets not run off new saying they got a kicking!

I agree with Belly in that the publicity seeking refugees take direction and advice from people within Australia on how to burn their boat, sabotage the motor, pull the drain cocks or “burn their hands for the camera”. The people providing these directions are either misguided do-gooders from some refugee aid agency or criminal refugee smugglers.