Navy intercepts seventh boat of asylum-seekers in two months

[Psyber]

Emigration is one of the oldest and most constant human experiences. Imaginary lines on maps and socially irresponsible hard line stances will not stop it.

It has been, probably, one of the most common causes of local battles and other similar hard line activities too..
Territoriality is hard-wired into animals of most if not all species.
You are right, lines on maps are artificial, and only change has been constant as this process continues.

The issue of whether new comers will bring good or harm with them has always been with us, and there is, and has been, no certain answer.

[Leaping Lindner]

It's all very well to agree with our way of doing things but it's not the real refugees that are getting into Australia, it's the ones that can afford to pay a five figure sum to circumvent the process.

O.M.G

Please enlighten me as to how this is incorrect?

Okay. I will spell it out for you. You don't have to be poor to be a refugee. The fact that people have money doesn't make them any less a political refugee. Look at the Jews that managed to flee Europe in the late 1930s just prior to World War Two. Hardly struggling for quid but still VERY much refugees.

[Zelezny Chucks]

It's all very well to agree with our way of doing things but it's not the real refugees that are getting into Australia, it's the ones that can afford to pay a five figure sum to circumvent the process.

O.M.G

Please enlighten me as to how this is incorrect?

Okay. I will spell it out for you. You don't have to be poor to be a refugee. The fact that people have money doesn't make them any less a political refugee. Look at the Jews that managed to flee Europe in the late 1930s just prior to World War Two. Hardly struggling for quid but still VERY much refugees.

I don't think people have an issue with people who are genuinely fleeing life threatening situations but it's not like we share a border with any countries, let alone any countries that have these sorts of issues. How many countries, that are safe, have they travelled through before getting on a boat to come to Australia?

Secondly, if the option they have is being detained until their application can be processed, however long that is, or being sent home to certain death then what is the problem? Give them that choice, I know if I had a choice between the two it wouldn't take long to decide. Anyone that whinges about the time in detention probably isn't in a life threatening position back home anyway.

[Q.]

Okay. I will spell it out for you. You don't have to be poor to be a refugee. The fact that people have money doesn't make them any less a political refugee. Look at the Jews that managed to flee Europe in the late 1930s just prior to World War Two. Hardly struggling for quid but still VERY much refugees.

I don't think people have an issue with people who are genuinely fleeing life threatening situations but it's not like we share a border with any countries, let alone any countries that have these sorts of issues. How many countries, that are safe, have they travelled through before getting on a boat to come to Australia?

Secondly, if the option they have is being detained until their application can be processed, however long that is, or being sent home to certain death then what is the problem? Give them that choice, I know if I had a choice between the two it wouldn't take long to decide. Anyone that whinges about the time in detention probably isn't in a life threatening position back home anyway.

Depends where they're coming from, but most countries in from the Middle East to SE Asia are not signatories to the refugee convention.

[redandblack]

They do go to other countries, ZC.

Australia takes a very small proportion of the world's refugees.

We have, like all countries, an obligation under the UN Refugee Convention to accept refugees for processing. They are not illegal. A proportion of the ones who come here would have family already here.

There are currently over 1,000 children refugees on Christmas Island. Over 600 have no father. Many of the fathers were killed under the Saddam Hussein regime.

Asylum seekers make up a tiny proportion of our immigration intake. People who are well-off enough to come here for a holiday, then illegally overstay their visas, outnumber them dramatically.

Strangely enough, there is almost no debate about that problem. We all know why.

Given recent circumstances, I'd hope (futilely) that more Australians would show some compassion towards their fellow human beings who have been through such great trauma.

If they're not genuine refugees, they don't get to stay.

I'm not attracted to your certain death or long-term incarceration choice. I think we as a country can do better than that.

[GWW]

Asylum seekers make up a tiny proportion of our immigration intake. People who are well-off enough to come here for a holiday, then illegally overstay their visas, outnumber them dramatically.

How does this article affect the debate r and b?

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/asyl ... 6008689227

[redandblack]

It doesn't affect it at all, GWW.

That is a comparison between asylum seekers arriving by boat and plane and isn't relevant to my statement about the total immigration intake (unless you think our total intake is only about 10,000 a year).

Also, is an asylum seeker arriving by plane more worthy somehow?

I'd also be careful of accepting a Courier Mail article at face value, especially one that starts with a sympathetic photo and commentary about that grub Scott Morrison

[GWW]

I take a neutral position on the subject r and b, I don't have a huge opinion one way or another but enjoy reading the debate.

The journo is an SA raised girl, now writes for the local Sunday Mail, i think the Courier just printed it as part of the News Ltd syndicate.

[redandblack]

Yes, you're right about Sam Maiden. I don't blame her for the pic and vomit accompaniment.

Agree also about your neutrality, no problem.

[Squawk]

I don't blame her for the pic and vomit accompaniment.

It's time Sam Maiden updated her own pic - she has now put on about a lot of kgs since her current pic was taken - it could be ten years old!

[Leaping Lindner]

It doesn't affect it at all, GWW.

That is a comparison between asylum seekers arriving by boat and plane and isn't relevant to my statement about the total immigration intake (unless you think our total intake is only about 10,000 a year).

Also, is an asylum seeker arriving by plane more worthy somehow?

I'd also be careful of accepting a Courier Mail article at face value, especially one that starts with a sympathetic photo and commentary about that grub Scott Morrison

What do you mean? You mean Manning Clark WASN'T a soviet spy????
(One for anyone who remembers "news" from the mid 1990s)

[Sheik Yerbouti]

It's all very well to agree with our way of doing things but it's not the real refugees that are getting into Australia, it's the ones that can afford to pay a five figure sum to circumvent the process.

O.M.G

Please enlighten me as to how this is incorrect?

Okay. I will spell it out for you. You don't have to be poor to be a refugee. The fact that people have money doesn't make them any less a political refugee. Look at the Jews that managed to flee Europe in the late 1930s just prior to World War Two. Hardly struggling for quid but still VERY much refugees.

German ones had to leave 90% of assets with the goosesteppers according to a recent doco.

[scoob]

Asylum seekers enjoying their time on Christmas Island...

http://www.news.com.au/national/violent ... 6024047247

[Psyber]

Asylum seekers enjoying their time on Christmas Island...
http://www.news.com.au/national/violent ... 6024047247

Even the ALP is suggesting this behaviour doesn't make some of them look like good prospective citizens.
On the other hand I have read at least one suggestion that the police should be removed because their presence makes the people tense and that stress triggers the violence.
Chicken and the egg situation alert!
Pick your side and go for it.

[redandblack]

I understand the frustrations of being detained for a long time, but no-one can condone resorting to violence.

It doesn't help those who don't join in and who are against that sort of action.

I agree it doesn't help their visa prospects.

[smithy]

Maybe the visa applications are being delayed because the govt didn't even know they existed.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/officials-didnt-know-two-sri-lankans-existed/story-e6frea6u-1226039940502

[smithy]

More rioting in detention centres, this time at Villawood.

Villawood rioting

[Sojourner]

They were saying that two of the main proponents of the violence were people that had had their cases for being refugees rejected twice and are currently incarcerated because they are having a third attempt.

Perhaps the Government, both Labor, LIberal and the others need to get together and have a real discussion about the time it takes for people to be processed and how many times court action can be taken when the verdict is no. If someone is clearly not genuine then they need to be able to work through the process quickly and return that person to their country of origin qucikly, leaving them to start problems which have now dragged others into it and given them criminal records in the process helps no one.

[mick]

I'm suprised after 3 weeks away, there has been no discussion of the Gillard government's reinstating the Pacific solution to asylum seekers on this forum, come here by boat and you'll end up in Malaysia which has not signed the UN treaty on refugees - nice one Julia -maybe it will stop the boats. and win a few votes (not a bad pun)

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm suprised after 3 weeks away, there has been no discussion of the Gillard government's reinstating the Pacific solution to asylum seekers on this forum, come here by boat and you'll end up in Malaysia which has not signed the UN treaty on refugees - nice one Julia -maybe it will stop the boats. and win a few votes (not a bad pun)

Processing asylum seekers in Malaysia. What could possibly go wrong? It's not like it's a corrupt regime or anything.
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/st ... tm?desktop