Joe, I have never been in favor of people making the dangerous journey to Australia in boats. I do see "the boats" as a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself, which is a world refugee crises. Putting all your energies into tackling the symptom is counter productive as the actual problem can only get larger.
When you said, "People parked out of the way for seventeen years. Beautiful people, out of sight. People with as much rights to a good and happy life as you and me." This made me think of my old boss, a South African who was fast tracked to Australia after the fall of the white government over there, no 17 years in a camp for him. The following story fits this bloke to a tee, an arrogant chap! I have met the other kind as well. even though they had money they too were economic refugees. Many years ago I met an Egyptian fellow, he was very well off, he had been a supplier to the British before Nasseh came to power, and expelled pro British Egyptians, no way was this bloke going to another Arab country like Jorden, too much trouble in the Middle East as it was. He openly told me he had bought his passage to Australia by paying for a Maltese (British) passports for himself and family, and paying government officials, another economic refugee, but an asset to Australia never the less, we got a lot of "Maltese" people that way.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/the-african-migrants-who-fear-a-lower-standard-of-living/2008/06/06/1212259114357.html

CH,

"Poirot, I'm not aware that Australia has legislated to jail professionals who expose child abuse. That's news to me.'

What's the address of the rock you live under?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-30/detention-centre-workers-face-imprisonment-for-whistleblowing/6584392

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/03/australian-detention-centre-secrecy-laws-condemned-by-world-medical-body?CMP=share_btn_tw

"The World Medical Association has condemned new secrecy laws in Australian detention centres, and called on the prime minister, Tony Abbott, to amend the new laws to allow medical staff to speak out about the healthcare of asylum seekers."

"But my question is, why did you direct that at me? Is that supposed to confirm Paul's stupid allegation we are living under a totalitarian regime?

Although I almost always disagree with your position, I've never considered you to be stupid. I am however getting sick of the exaggerated and un-verifiable claims that seem to keep popping up from those with an obsessed hatred for Tony Abbott."

Get this, CH...just because you're happy to contribute to the rampant dimwittery which abounds on this forum in relation to our idiotic PM, doesn't mean we all have to.

Get a load of his latest stunt on the warship! This is a man who worships Churchill and wants to be a wartime PM - hence all the bang-up terror alerts and military paraphernalia.

He's a dangerous creep who's white-anting our freedoms for political gain. The fact that Labor are cheering on his stupid antics for the same political kudos is shameful.

I couldn't give a hoot if you think I hate Abbott and you are "getting sick" of my views.

Who cares?

Don't read them then.

I've never seen such a poor excuse for a leader. He's a joke on the world stage as well as at home - and dangerous stunt-boy who hasn't anything else of substance.

Dear Shadow,

If you insist in only reading from the very narrow
views of the Murdoch media - especially The Australian,
and if you keep on avidly supporting
what the Abbott-led Coalition does without question
as far as asylum seekers go - then there's no further
point for us to continue discussing anything.

WFYB!

Sorry Foxy, but your last post was very pot, kettle, shade of black.

Of course you have a lot of mates in this behaviour.

Dear Hassie,

I can't accept that anyone with a heart and
a brain would not be disturbed by the recent
"Border Force Act,"
which includes the provision of a two year
jail sentence for "entrusted persons" such as
doctors, nurses, teachers, and social workers
if they speak out about the deplorable state of
human rights in immigrant detention without
express permission of the Minister for Immigration
and Border Protection.

This strengthens the wall of secrecy which prevents
public scrutiny and is against everything that this
country as a representative democracy stands for.

This kind of action smacks of totalitarianism -
and the Abbott-led Coalition government needs to be questioned
regarding this policy.

The open letter to the government from doctors, nurses,
teachers, and social workers is doing precisely that.

Fox, "wall of secrecy"

Bollocks! What public servant or contractor isn't subject to a code of conduct that requires maintaining confidentiality and obtaining management permission to release business information? Have a chat with federal or State public servants why don't you? Check out the penalties for the unauthorised release of confidential information, particularly affecting clients and in this case patients.

Have a look at the restrictions and penalties under the State Health Acts for the unauthorised release of hospital, patient, doctor and treatment information. There are guides available. Here is SA's for info,

http://tinyurl.com/q2agp5d

C'wealth, bite on this for starters,
http://tinyurl.com/pm6ub8r

How come you and those complainants have never whined about any of that?

The complaints are uninformed and politically motivated, that is why.