Migration policy that prefers applicants with needed education, skills and the capacity to easily fit into the host country and become respectable, law-abiding, productive citizens is what migration is supposed to be all about, isn't it?

What twisted agenda would prioritise 'diversity' instead? Why?

The culturally cringing leftists have a dead hand on the tiller and Abbott is falling short. He is well-meaning but he or his advisers are too focussed on the short term (newspaper polls). A statesman is sorely needed.

Someone mentioned 'sustainability', but as far as the leftists and the barking mad Greens are concerned, sustainability is obviously just a marketing gimmick for them.

OTB

Diversity is now one of the key selection criteria in govt jobs.Its more important to know & identify with Calathumpian language and culture --- than English and Australian values.

SPQR,

That could go some way towards explaining the corruption and ineffectiveness apparent in the federal immigration administration.

Now that the previous Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has been transferred to the social services ministry and Health Minister Peter Dutton to immigration, will this be taken as the golden opportunity to forget or minimise Morrison's promise to urgently review and report on corruption in immigration?

Yes Paul, spot on, I have no knowledge of Menzies statements on Hitler
but it seems many were taken in, Chamberlain etc.

Foxy,
I have suggested a sure fire way to stop terrorists.
First, it seems many of their operations are expected to be suicide
operations. They become martyrs and enter Paradise immediately.
Using that belief, then bury Monsi with a pig and warn that all future
terrorists killed in operations will also be buried with a pig.

That will make it impossible for them to enter Paradise.
That would be a major disincentive.

Foxy,
I accept what Peter Costello had to say in those 3 paragraphs as an objective.

However, what he does not say is how to achieve that end.

The only way that can be achieved is to deny entry to those groups that have shown contempt for our society and laws. Those who desire to dramatically change our society. Without selective immigration, the hatreds and alien cultural practices will continue to be refreshed.

How else can it be achieved? As yet nobody has put forward anything practical. Have you an opinion on how it can be done?

We have spoken about this issue many times and, if I recall properly, you last were still very keen on diversity as the objective of immigration policy. You now appear to have changed and, by quoting Costello, now seek social cohesion as the objective. How do we get that?

Dear Banjo,

I have stated in the past and continue to
do so now that what is necessary is to make it
quite clear to newcomers that they will be expected
to obey our laws and make an overriding commitment
to Australia, its values, and its people.

I can't make it any clearer for you.

Currently - all Australians are equal under the law.

This means that nobody should be treated differently
from anybody else because of their race, ethnicity,
or country of origin, because of their age, gender,
marital status or disability, or because of their
political or religious beliefs.

Government agencies and
independent courts are required to treat everyone
fairly. This means that you cannot refuse entry into
this country to people because of their race, colour,
religion, gender, marital status, et cetera. What you are
proposing goes against the very framework of the laws -
that we expect everyone to abide by.