"The shortage of staff seems to coincide to some extent with the shortage of funds to pay for them."

I know what you mean Shadow, here in NSW, the incompetent LIberal/National government of Gladys Whatshername is blowing billions of dollars through cost blow outs for half baked, over priced, ineffective, stupid road projects. Not to mention the financial fiasco of their 'light rail'! Gee, no wonder there is no money for much needed hospitals and schools, when you have these dills running government and blowing the cash!

I totally agree with you.

What about not enough money and doctors and nurses to reduce surgical procedure waiting lists throughout our country and in home countries of the boat people ?

This is all about economics and politics and media that is allowing the situation to worsen.
Just look at the waste of time in federal parliament from leaders bickering and jibing at each other instead of debating economic solutions including new projects to generate new business and employment and revenue.

And how did light rail get publicly approved in this democracy?
Who wants trams again?
Buses are faster without taking up whole roadways and parking areas and spaces
Its not light rail, they are TRAMS.
Costing billions.

Proper economics and prosperity and peace should be debated worldwide and to inspire people to stay in their own countries.

Paul,

Good to see you representing the do-nothing greens well and opposing both roads and public transport and the budget surplus the libs achieve.

Shadow,

Maybe you have Paul wrong about his comment there.
I think the greens support trams?
I did not see the greens speaking out to stop them, the "light rail".

If only political point scoring could be put aside so as to get prosperity and peace happening worldwide.

I can tell you all about it, here in Sydney we are overwhelmed by the constant arrival of 'BOAT PEOPLE'! Just this week another four boats arrived, disgorging about 12,000 ASYLUM SEEKERS. I was at Circular Quay myself, making a valiant, but fruitless, single handed attempt at turning back the boats. At one point I managed to get one boat, which the PEOPLE SMUGGLERS had foolishly painted white and named 'Pacific Explorer' for easy identification, hitched to the Sydney ferry "The Lady Woodward', hoping to tow the invader back out to sea, and then to the port of embarkation, namely Noumea in New Caledonia, but alas our gallant little ferry was no match for the 78,000 tonne monster! I believe some asylum seekers had paid the people smugglers as much as $1,000/day to be brought to Aussie, can you believe it! I even went as far as catching a ferry to Manly, and as we passed Garden Island, I yelled out to our ever vigilant navy boys "There are boat people in the harbour!" They looked at me oddly, and laughed, can you believe that? They did nothing, not a thing. Anyway, despite my best efforts all the boaties got ashore, and they were last seen heading for The Rocks, the Star Casino and Paddy's Market! I do do believe Canberra and Macquarie Street are encouraging this kind of people smuggling, by issuing visas and offering assistance, can you believe it, I certainly can't! I will be back next week at Circular Quay attempting to once more, turn back the boats. Wish me luck.

Gosh, that's clever, Paul. I laughed so hard I wet my jocks, I might have to change them; nah.

So Australia has an annual quota, around sixteen thousand. The LNP government also has special intakes, and I hope that they take many Rohingya from Arakan, those poor buggers don't seem to have done anybody any harm. Of course, you may wish that the annual quotas and special intakes were more numerous ?

So what's your preferred number ? 20,000 and, say, 5,000 ? 40,000 and 10,000 ? Pick a number :)

I would love to know how many of the 65,000,000 refugees around the world have done all the right things and applied to come to Australia. I'm sure you would agree that the annual quota should come from their number.

So do you think that ny others who come by boat without papers etc. should be taken in - and if so, as part of the annual quota, or over and above it ? If as part of vthe annual quota, then should they displace equivalent numbers of people who have filled out all the right forms and waited ?

And waited.

And waited.

Or do you think that people with a few thousand dollars can jump the queue ?

Queue ?! Well, if the numbers of new applicants each year, people who have filled out all the right forms, and waited, is greater than the annual quota, then there's a waiting list. A queue. Your strange rationale against the notion doesn't fly, Paul.

Joe