O sung,
The bigger question is why do so 99.9% of the people in the Third World simply stay put and make do with what they have? Right now there are people in South Sudan drinking in bars, throwing parties, going to the movies, gambling, watching soccer matches and concerts just like anywhere else yet a tiny minority of Sudanese are turning up on the shores of Europe with horror stories about life in their homeland.

Suse, some reading for you, it explains why you're an ignorant xenophile and who's kept you in that state:
http://www.radixjournal.com/journal/2015/5/18/the-war-on-human-nature

o sung wu - Give money in an Asian country to a beggar he or she will go and tell the others, now you have lots of beggars coming to get something from you.

A lot of the welfare for lifers tell others what they got and now get for FREE from Australian taxpayers so the others come and expect the same, simple answer for lots not all.

One even turned up years ago with the xrays for medical surgery she needed asking when it will be done.

Look how many have returned to the country they supposedly fled from for holidays.

Under Labor we were taken for suckers and the gutless politicians just watched, over 50,000.

Dear Robert Le Page,

I do not think the problem is insolvable at all. Overpopulation is certainly an issue but one that is being addressed by education (particularly of women), improved health standards and a diminution of global conflict.

Most certainly the best solution lies in working to ensure countries do not become untenable for large numbers of their citizens. Foreign aid plays such an important role in this as does adequately funding agencies like the UN and particularly the UNHCR. Australia under the latest lot have sought to slash our contribution as a nation to such bodies. There will be times when speedy intervention will prevent such large movements of people. Our capacity and our willingness to assist has been dramatically diminished and needs to be returned to pre Abbott levels.

There are some who don't want to spend the necessary money and see the solution in instead hardening our hearts. I happen to think we are a far better nation than that.

Dear spindoc,

Very tortured but raised a wee chuckle. At least let me thank you for not resurrecting the Gordon Tallis quote you were so fond of a few years back.

Dear OTB,

Doubling down by going from buff young men to child sex trafficking and child rape in a thread about compassion was interesting but certainly in keeping with the premise.

Hi Steele,

My sentiments as well, those of the extreme right see a danger of uncontrolled mass migration and how it would negatively impact on their harmonious lifestyle. The solution they put forward is to create a siege mentality within, based on fear of those they perceive as unjustified interlopers, they see these people as socially destructive. The idea being to simply drive those who would trespass away, using military force if necessary. Australia has already used the military to achieve this end, deflecting the problem to places like Nauru and PNG, finding these countries easy to buy off. That in itself is a win for extremism.
The justification for negative action is two fold, one the overriding desire to maintain society as it is, and two the rationale that these people are unworthy and not genuine, even seen by some as animal like sub humans. You only have to read the posts above to realize there is little sympathy from many to the plight of these unfortunate people.
A positive solution to the problem of refugees is extremely hard to achieve, and would require a concerted effort by the whole world, attacking the root causes of displacement. The detractors will simply say, this is idealistic nonsense, and continue their present combatant attitude.

Paul,
The alternative proposal is to let these tens of thousands of men in without any screening and set them loose on society without supervision.
You can't expect normal people to give in to the demands of communists,xenophilic perverts and childless middle aged cat ladies simply because biased news reports and documentaries showing boatlaods of poverty stricken men are upsetting their delicate sensibilities.
I'm sure Suse and Robert le Page would love to have a young peanut butter coloured lodger each, they could bathe them, feed them and tuck them into bed at night to visit them in the wee hours when the urge becomes unbearable, like some stalking Christian Brother of old.

As usual this has developed into the usual stream of insults and aspersions instead of the serious debate it deserves.
So I will withdraw from this and wait for the continued breakdown of civilisation and hope that I have died before it reaches me.
Good luck with your petty squabbling and ad hominems, I hope you will remember this "conversation" when it is too late to do anything about it.