Hasbeen and others, I consider Australia as still being a humane society, My view on asylum seekers is clear and unequivocal and has never deviated. Persons seeking asylum in Australia should be considered on a case by case basis. Those deemed to be genuine refugees should be allowed to reside permanently in Australia and ultimately receive citizenship. Those found NOT to be refugees should be deported, and providing they fit the relevant criteria can apply to immigrate to Australia through the normal channels. In the intervening period asylum seekers should be treated with respect, and allowed to maintain their dignity. It goes without saying all people should be treated humanly.
The issue of "boats" is something we also have to deal with. I have never been in favor of people undertaking the hazardous and often deadly voyage to Australia by small boat. I do however recognize their desperation in undertaking such a dangerous voyage and do not see it as a criminal act on their part. I believe Australia has to do all things humanly possible, within the law and with regard to our international responsibilities to discourage the practice of boat arrivals.
Some here are simply being unreasonable, applying some kind of hysteria to the issue, calming all asylum seekers are criminals and terrorists, no doubt some would go to the extreme that they all should be shot, men women and children.
This stigmatizing and stereotyping of groups of people has gone on the world over, often leading to mass extermination in the name of "protecting" the good from the evil. I think its call genocide at times.

A bit of light reading for those who don't know.

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007043

Paul1405,

So despite your protestations to the contrary you are rooting for an open door policy where anyone can enter Australia and appeal forever despite where they came from and other significant considerations, such as destruction of papers and crafted stories.

Contrary to your disgraceful allegations about the motivation and principles of those who oppose the Greens open door policy which you slavishly follow, both major parties and a huge majority of citizens oppose for very good reasons, one being to destroy the smugglers' business model, which thankfully the government has now done and done convincingly.

It is interesting in a predictably way that you would have the gall and arrogance to post a link to an article on genocide when your Greens oppose young Aussie couples having the children they want, demanding that they instead support the open door immigration policy you ascribe to, ostensibly to alleviate over-population elsewhere and for a 'diversity'. A 'diversity' policy that is the ultimate solution of Greens and culture-cringing 'Progressives' to destroy of essential foundations of the life of the Australian national group, especially the 'whites', with the aim of annihilating the group themselves.

You are for instance in lock-step on this with Foxy who is up-front in her disgust for the Australian people as 'inferior' and needing to be so far diluted by migration of any other cultural groups as to be insignificant and hopefully bred out in time.

In short, no only do you support the people smugglers business model and would have the deaths at sea continue as before, your open door immigration and other social initiatives are aimed at genocide of your hated and despised Australian compatriots.

Dear Is Mise,

Muslims like Christians are a diverse group.
They not only come from different cultures, and have
linguistic differences but -
not all of them wear burqas, have beards,
and practice their religion in exactly the same way.
Therefore making sweeping generalisations about them
really does not add anything constructive
to the discussion.

Paul,
You said, "Some here are simply being unreasonable, applying some kind of hysteria to the issue, calming all asylum seekers are criminals and terrorists, no doubt some would go to the extreme that they all should be shot, men women and children.
This stigmatizing and stereotyping of groups of people has gone on the world over, often leading to mass extermination in the name of "protecting" the good from the evil. I think its call genocide at times".

It is not hysteria, it is reality which you apparently do not accept.

All boat arrivals ARE breaking Australian laws by entering without a valid visa. However I have not seen any advocating they should be shot, as you claim. They can be, and are, detained because they are breaking our laws. Can you state any other reason as to why we can detain them. Persons that enter with a valid visa and claim asylum are free to go about their business while their claim is assessed.

They are stereotyped because they are entering our country illegally with the intention of lying to our immigration officials, firstly by destroying any identification. Their intention is to deceive.

Can you give any rational reason as to why a genuine refugee would prefer to pay far more to enter on a leaky boat than fly here in safety? I can and it begins with them not being genuine.

If you do not believe in an open door policy, then you are out of step with the greens as the party apparently does.

It irks Labor and greens supporters that the LNP has succeeded thus far in preventing more arrivals and they are now resorting to personal attacks on the Minister. Frankly, the Minister is doing a great job and far quicker than I expected. I am sure most citizens look forward to further reductions in illegal arrivals and the closure of more detention centres.

You should be celebrating the fact that none have drowned in recent times, if you are so compassionate about these illegals.

Foxy, (referring to Muslim illegal immigrants) "Therefore making sweeping generalisations about them really does not add anything constructive to the discussion"

That is not advice you take yourself though. It is all directed one way apparently as evidenced by your contemptuous posts on Aussie past and present. For example,

<Therefore making sweeping generalisations about them
really does not add anything constructive
to the discussion.
Posted by Foxy, Friday, 28 February 2014 10:35:06 AM>

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6251&page=2

This example,

<Foxy.

With respect, it was an outrageously offensive, elitist thing to say about Australia. You may not intend it, but it comes across as the crass arrogance of the archetypal European toff dismissing Australians. That is if any Europeans actually know that Australia exists, or cares.

A cultural cringe,
"It's important to remember Australia before the
waves of migration. It was dull, self-satisfied
and joylessly conformist. Not sinply(sic) null and boring,
but nullarboring. Not merely mindless, but lobotomised".
Posted by onthebeach, Wednesday, 26 February 2014 9:26:32 PM>

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6251&page=24