Trapdiocan,

There is no UN convention obliging Australia or any other country to take immigrants. Australia did sign the 1951 Refugee Convention, but so did Japan. Signatory countries are not required under the Convention to give refugees permanent residency or citizenship, just a safe place to stay until they can go home. Countries can also withdraw from the Convention.

Shockadelic,

Open borders with even other rich countries are not a good idea. We are self-sufficient in food, and most of them are not. This is likely to become more important in the future, as agricultural inputs such as oil and phosphate rock get scarcer and more expensive, and food prices rise on the world market. The open borders arrangement with New Zealand has also caused some more immediate problems because it allows New Zealand to export their unemployment problem to us and attract short-term migrants with the lure of moving on to Australia. The migrants only have to work in New Zealand for a few years, just long enough to take out New Zealand citizenship, and then move on to Australia.

Divergance- I stand corrected on the issue of signatories to immigration,its always good to learn something new even for an old dog like me :)
Any talk of changing Australian immigration policies must somehow avoid any perceived attack on racial grounds,and that is no easy feat ! It must also not offend the Politically correct brigade,because these two terms political correct and racism have trapped us with the Multiculturalism policy we have at this moment in time Political Correctness and Racism as being the weapons of choice by which the supporters have kept the debate on immigration stifled, and that is what you will face if you attempt to modify any part of the Multiculturalism policy or replace it with any other type of immigration policy ! Why I push"integration" Is that it leaves the choice of migration to Australia up to the individual,if they think that they can live in our society and blend in with our beliefs an meet our expectations they will come here, but if they do not then they will not !This is the reason that boat people did not bother with trying to come to Australia before the advent of Multiculturalism ! There is no blame because it is their choice and their choice only whether they choose to immigrate here or not !

Well, this was a waste of time.

The nationalists can agree on one thing: numbers need to be reduced.
Great. That gets us nowhere.

And the panculturalists?
Can't even be bothered debating a gradualist approach.

A couple popped by to make a flippant remark.
What a shock.

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait for the civil war to shake things up a bit.
Until then both sides will just bicker and waddle along.

Dear Shockadelic,

Aww mate don't be like that.

Look I'm prepared to put the time into a civilized discussion about the issue if you like.

Just as an opening teaser I was watching The Voice with my kids and this fella came on and belted out a great performance.

http://www.thevoice.com.au/video/videos/week_3/julian-simonsz-sings-suit-and-tie_2715.html

He is of Sri Lankan heritage (one of your Low-Medium types) and so is his wife. Newly married they had postponed their honeymoon to go on the show. They had another wedding celebration scheduled in Sri Lanka. He has a degree, seems young, bright, enthusiastic, a great addition to our country. He also, at least in my eyes, seems pretty much an Aussie as any, just listen to the conversation with the judges at the end of the performance.

My father in law is German immigrant and he recently received a request from a distant family member for assistance emigrating to Australia. He is in computer programming and has fallen in love with the idea of living in this country. I'm sure he would also make a great addition to our country although he is closer to 50 than 30. Who should get the opportunity? Well I think we are a big enough country to be prepared to offer it to those to whom it would make the greatest difference. We should rightly feel good about ourselves when we see couples like this.

Hi Steele,

I am sure that Shocka will be along soon to sort you out, but just a couple of observations whilst we are waiting
(and on the topic of Shocka sorting you out --I hope you have full hospital and medical cover!):

1) If it is well and good to use someones performance on an overly-hyped, pre-scripted modern day Roman circus aka The Voice, as a selling point on open slather immigration: [to paraphrase you] *LOOK, LOOK X is a good singer and open immigration bought him to us...awwww! (dribble dribble)*. I guess you and your open-border cohorts wont be whining about selectivity or generalisations the next someone argues against it, evidencing that Y is a utter bastard and he arrived here the same way!

2) Why is being younger necessarily more postive –see here where you list all his positive attributes “ He has a degree, seems YOUNG, bright, enthusiastic, a great addition to our country”. And you exhibit the same ageist prejudice when you talk about you long suffering father-in-law “ I'm sure he would also make a great addition to our country ALTHOUGH CLOSER TO 50 THAN 30” --have you cleared this prejudice with your masters?

social provacateuring qar/quote..<<.and open immigration bought him to us...awwww! (dribble dribble)*.>>

WE ALL HAVE OUR BURDENS
BUT IM WONDERING/WHY ..YOU GIVE THEM*..SO MUCH OF YOUR OWN TIME[THE THINGDS I DONT CONCERN ABOUT/I FOIRGET[AND LIFE GETS EASIER]

<<..I guess you and your open-border/cohorts>>

US SURRENDERING..OUR CONBCIOUS/WILL AND THINKING
THAT MANS BORDERS ARE A SILLY MEASAURE OF WORTH OR VALUES

you/me\we..them/they...<<..wont be whining about selectivity or generalisations the next someone argues against it,..evidencing that Y is a utter bastard..and he arrived here the same way!>>

present one/lets judge
pattell?..

<<....Why is being younger..necessarily more postive>>

the media presents/youth..youth IS IN OUR FACE/youtyh is ore postitive[so many who beganb thinking left/noR THING FULLY RIGHT

[WHATYEVER/LEFT\RIGHT..MAY..MEAN

<<..–see here/where you list.all his positive attributes>>

YOU NEVER DONE FORMAL DE*BAITING..HAVE YOU?

<<..“He has a degree,seems YOUNG, bright, enthusiastic, a great addition to our country”...And you exhibit the same ageist prejudice when you talk about you long suffering father-in-law “>>

OH/LORDY..thats a long bow[a low blow]..
maybe you have done debating..BUT LETS NOW MAKE YOU DE/BAIT.

<<.. I'm sure he would also make a great addition to our country ALTHOUGH CLOSER TO 50 THAN 30”>>

ignore the troll/play..the ball

<<.. --have you cleared this prejudice with your masters?>>

i know your masters..ARE ZION/
LETS TALK ISRAE-LIE AGGRESSION/ON ITS OLD/YOUNG ALIKE?

A NEW ISRAELI WAR ~~ AGAINST PALESTINIAN BANKS THIS TIME
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/a-new-israeli-war-against-palestinian-banks-this-time/
One such measure is that Israel informed the Palestinian side that it would no longer allow Palestinian banks to transport their surplus Israeli currency to the Israeli Central Bank, an act that is unheard of in the world of banking. Israel is refusing to serve its own currency.
http://www.newsforage.com/2014/05/the-truth-about-race-in-america-its.html
In effect,.Israel is declaring war on the Palestinian economy, risking the collapse of the thriving Palestinian banking sector, and disrupting the flow of basic goods such as electricity, petroleum, and natural gas into Palestine.
http://bit.ly/1jgqe7E
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Introducing_%E2%80%9CSubprime_Business_Lending%E2%80%9D_%E2%80%93_Loans_with_125%25_Interest_Rates_Are_Being_Securitized_and_Sold_to_Investors/35426/0/0/0/Y/M.html