As if the Oz govt is doing what it's doing because of concern for the welfare of asylum seekers.

Say it all you like - the govt and Opposition (belatedly, when they were in govt) hit upon a great vote puller - all they had to do was successfully tap the insular fearful vein of Oz - and Voila!.

Whoohoo! chase them away where possible - and imprison the ones who managed to get through - kiddies n'all - and serve 'em up a bit of depraved psychological torture, hot tents, sexual abuse, (not to mention, introducing legislation making it a crime for doctors, teachers, etc, to report abuse in these places) - and then tell everyone you're tryin' yer darnedest to stop 'em drowning.

Have your minions repeat ad nauseam the same spiel on public forums - and Bob's yer uncle.

Pull the other one, SM, it's got bells on it.

Poirot,

I know that the left whingers forget the 30 000 detainees including 1000s of children that labor and the greens left the coalition to deal with, and the thousands of dead women and children as an inconvenience rather than as a stain on your reputation.

So having slaughtered 1000s of asylum seekers due to ideological rigidity and complete incompetence, your sanctimonious finger wagging is wildly hypocritical and complete joke.

SM,

"So having slaughtered 1000s of asylum seekers due to ideological rigidity and complete incompetence, your sanctimonious finger wagging is wildly hypocritical and complete joke."

Well, now you're getting hysterical.

I wonder when we'll find out exactly what's been going on up there?

Because we all know that once a govt classifies a "peacetime" mission as "operational matters" and cloaks it in secrecy - that stuff is going down that wouldn't pass muster out in the open.

Elementary, my dear SM.

Shadow,

Not only is Abbott upsetting our neighbor to the north, he is also upsetting our neighbor to the east, New Zealand! Abbott will have to learn he cannot go around interfering in other countries foreign policy. New Zealand have indicated they will not have a bar of payments to people smugglers.

"Speaking to reporters in Parliament on Monday, Key said he knew about the boat, but not about any potential payment made."

"Key said the first he heard of the claims was through the media and he had not been advised of payments to the smugglers.
Any payment made was not on New Zealand's behalf."

Obviously, with Abbott interfering in New Zealand's foreign policy, it is understandable John Key would be furious with him, just like the Indonesians are.

Just noting that the altruistic LNP and Labor are currently voting against mandatory reporting of child abuse and assault on Nauru.

Warms the cockles of yer heart, doesn't it - the concern shown by the govt and Opposition for the welfare of children detained

What a bent, sordid and degraded nation we are becoming.

P&P,

I can clearly remember the altruistic SHY when asked about the drownings at sea effectively said "crap happens"

Warms the cockles of yer heart, doesn't it - the concern shown by the greens for the welfare of women and children drowning.

What a bent, sordid and degraded nation we used to be.