G'day there LOUDMOUTH...

You're right, I didn't think about in those terms ? Though do you believe any of our politicians are clever enough, to think up such a cunning strategy, devious to be sure, but cunning Emmm ?

And now to my little mate, the Professor Emeritus A J PHILIPS...?

You know the more you say, the more suspect I am of your bona fides A.J PHILIPS ? Awhile back you described yourself as studying criminology, a little later, an LLB, along with a close (personal) association with a 'chuckling' detective somewhere up in Qld ? It would seem prima facie, the precise verity of your academic eminence, deviates or contrasts, according to the exact point you wish to illustrate ?

In your latest piece, you now describe yourself as a Criminologist, '...who worked closely with police...' ? Police being singular, referring to your 'chuckling' detective mate in Qld.? Or does it mean within a structured squad, a task force, UC, or what -precisely, A J PHILIPS ?

You see my friend, in all the years as a detective, I never 'once' worked with, or requested assistance from, or even sought advice, or clarification, even prior to 'jumping the box', from a criminologist. Sure, forensic medical officers, forensic dental surgeons, accountants etc. all manner of 'expert' witnesses - but there was never a need for 'expert' guidance of criminologists ?

The only reason for this apparent 'glaring incongruity', we down here are lagging well behind, in our (Australia's largest) CIB ? Alternatively, our superiors never thought it necessary to engage their services, as it were ? What do you reckon A J PHILIPS ?

paying people smugglers probably not nearly as unethical as receieving bribes for not to give cleaners decent wages in exchange for union membership ah Bill? Oh that's right no comment. The silence from the alp (sorry abc) deafening.

//f you were a refugee, genuine or not, and you paid all the hard-earned savings of your family, your brothers, cousins and grandmothers, to get on a boat, and the b@stards only brought you back to where you started, what would you do ? Get on another boat ?//

No, probably not. But your gedanken only addresses demand, and only from some consumers - those who might potentially be repeat customers. I have a suspicion that the people smuggling trade isn't one that relies on repeat custom for it's profitability: I suspect it relies on drawing in new customers. So enacting policies that seek to dissuade repeat custom probably isn't going to go a long way towards breaking the people smuggling business model. And throwing money at it certainly isn't.

//So how soon before the trade dried up ?//

With a constant influx of new customers to provide the demand, and a bunch of cashed-up people smugglers who can now afford even more boats to provide the supply? Don't you mean how long before the trade dried up?

//Devilishly cunning !//

Devilishly cunning my arse. I don't which genius thought up this policy, but I want whatever they are smoking.

Giving large sums of money to the criminals whose criminal behaviour you are trying to prevent is counter-productive at best. And it certainly sends the wrong message to the voters.

It was indeed a thoroughly shambolic performance in QT today from those ministers responsible for ducking and weaving on the issue.

Julie Bishop gave a confusing reply and scuttled back to her seat muttering something about intelligence - and not being allowed to share it - Lol!

Tones donned a spectacular faux smug-bastard expression during the motion to suspend standing orders.

And Dutton told us he was going to give a clear statement - which consisted of him blathering that "We've stopped the boats".

They would be the boats that keep coming back to get cash to make them go away again - great stuff!

Here's the best take on the confused reaction from the govt being caught without a suitable plan of defence.

http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/article/2015/06/15/government-denies-paying-smugglers-unless-they-did-which-case-it-was-good-idea

"Government Denies Paying Smugglers Unless They Did In Which Case It Was A Good Idea"

Yes, cheaper but you run the risk of them loading up the boats so they will get caught and paid to return to Indonesia.

Hi Philip,

Yep, maybe once more, then ...........

We'll see, won't we ?