G'day there BANJO...

That my friend is a tall order ? My own 'personal' observation - I believe many of our border processes and preventive measures that are currently in place thereat are porous and easily penetrable, with just a little bluff ?

An example if I may ?

Customs Officer, after examining the Pax's Passport;

Q. '...You're from Lebanon Mr ABDUL, you're first visit here to Australia Mr ABDUL...'?

A. '...yeah my, first visit here, because Joe my friend invited me here, and he's told me all about it, and what a great place it is...'?

Q. '...you're visiting your friend here in Sydney ?

A. '...that's all' ?

Q. '...what's your friends name and address...' ?

A. '...Joe BLOGGS...' He lives in Bondi Junction...?

Q. '...What's Mr BLOGGS full address, in Bondi Junction...' ?

A. ' I don't know the actual street name, but I know how to get there by taxi, easy enough...'

Q. '...You say this is your first visit here, so how can you direct the taxi driver...'?

A. '...No problems, Joe gave me written directions in his letter...'

Q. '...So you and Mr BLOGGS have exchanged letters prior to holidaying here, and he's given you full directions how to get to his home at Bondi Junction...'?

A. '...Yeah, that's it...'

Q. '...Then how did you manage to exchange letters with Mr BLOGGS if you didn't know where to send his letters...'?

A. '...when I was home I had all his address and stuff, I just forgot to bring it with me, but I've got his directions to his house OK though...'?

Q. '...what's Mr BLOGGS telephone number, do you know...'?

A. '...gee's I even forgot that.. ' ?

Q. '...alright Mr ABDUL, as it's your first visit here, you've been co-operative with me and answered all my questions. But should you choose to visit Australia again, I would suggest you carry some papers or other documents that can substantiate your accommodation details, and any other activities that you may plan on doing while holidaying here. Do you understand me Mr ABDUL ?

**Continued**

The above piece of manufactured nonsense is quite typical of the friendly, hospitable approach some of our hard working and dedicated custom's officers employ, when a passenger approaches the 'primary line' at any of our major airports. I do however recognise and accept, some Customs measures may have been strengthened considerably in the last two or three years ?

However, if a name is highlighted on the 'watch list' then the gloves come off. I have the highest regard for the personnel of the Australian Custom Service, and generally they have a brilliant record in interdicting the movements of criminals and terrorists as they come and go. But as I said, our procedures apropos access and egress into our country are somewhat porous, and quite fallible.

BANJO, this is just one small area that needs close examination ? Our Customs people are brilliant. However, amend procedures, and tighten protocols. As a start, it's the pax who MUST establish his/her bona fides, if they can't, well too bad. I would suggest (in the first instance) have a look at the US model, that they've adopted, under the aegis of Homeland Security. Not perfect by a long shot. But much better than us ?

I hope this minor observation of mine, will provoke further reflections and commentary from you BANJO. 'Leaking' borders, is not very reassuring for any of us, one need only review and consider the number of criminals who manage to come and go as they damn well please, usually through our capital city airports ?

Steel,
I'll address your last post first, which is to do with non-citizen criminality.

I believe our laws should be far tougher and we should be building more jails if judges are instructed to give lenient sentences so as not to pressure our present jails. This affects all sentences, whether citizens or not.

Last time I looked, if a non-citizen received a jail sentence of 2 years or more he/she can be deported on completion. Given that it would be a very serious crime to receive a 2 year jail sentence, that is a joke and needs reducing to 1 year sentence AND deportation.

I do not doubt your examples, re the Scotsmen, I did know of an Asian bloke who was jailed for drug dealing. Immigration was waiting for him on release and put him in Villawood pending his deportation. He appealed and the court allowed him to stay here. Why, because he claimed to have fathered a child while here and it would be unfair on the child not to have its father. I do not recall if he even had to prove he was the father, in any case I think the kid would be better off without such a father.

Then there is that Slav bloke, Robert something. He came here with parents as a little kid and had been in jail most of his life for stealing and drug related crimes, a total loss. Never bothered to become naturalized. we deported him to Belgrade and the then opposition leader, Beasley, kicked up such a fuss and cried for him, that we actually brought him back. So he got a free trip to Europe and back. What is the point in having laws?

So the non-citizen criminals get off lightly because we do not apply the laws as we should to protect our citizens. Many non-citizens commit crimes. They are many nationalities, not just Scotsmen.

I might add that I did submit a paper to a government inquiry into Non-citizen deportation about 20 years ago, advocating a tougher stance, but did not achieve anything.

Bazz,
All would be terrorist note, 'All terrorists will be shot if possible whilst committing the crime and then buried at sea, with a pig in the coffin'

That brought a smile to my face, I like that. Put on the list.

OTB,
I agree with what you say on page 10, but it does not please me.

The previous Howard gov dropped the MC word from use and indicated it was just letting MC die. Gillard floated MC a couple of times but it got no support. I really was expecting the current gov to formally drop MC but Abbott seems to betting 2 bob each way on most issues. Like he doesn't want to upset anyone. He just threw away 200mil to some international climate mob. I am most disappointed.

We really need to be rid of MC and then import only those that will integrate. We should be training our own skilled workers and not poaching them from poorer countries. Like Ludwig, I reckon we should aim for zero net immigration. Most frustrating. Labor has lost its working class politicians and is now all academics, lawyers and union hacks. LNP is under the thumb of big business and dances to their tune. Maybe a new practical party is needed.

The taxpayer-funded national broadcaster is the prime single beneficiary of multiculturalism, which goes some way towards explaining why it puts so much effort and air time into marketing MC. That is including providing a podium for a lot of MC spruikers who in some cases have been earning their daily bread from it in one way or other for decades, their whole working life.