Campaign countdown: and then a jump to the riiiiiight

Dan says:

07:10am | 06/07/10

Right. We are under threat from asylum seekers who number so few (3500 have arrived this year) that we are eventually going to be swamped. When (or if) it does happen, I doubt you will even be alive, so I wouldn’t worry if I was you.

Brad of Bentleigh says:

07:23am | 06/07/10

It’ll be interesting to see how “the left” handle Labor’s stance on this. I wonder how the humanitarian brigade (such as Julian Burnside) will react… I heard him on two radio stations yesterday, and somehow he managed to blame Tony Abbott for Labor’s [not even released] policy.
That’s the left for you, utterly unrealistic in their approach, and the elitists you refer to, Eric, these are their public faces

Ryan says:

10:04am | 06/07/10

@Dan: when last did you visit the UK. I dare you to go to Bradford for a couple of days.

Stewart Henstock says:

10:16am | 06/07/10

The voters are basically ignorant on Australian politics.Without the cheat sheets at the polling booths half the votes would be donkey and out of ignorance…. breeds the red neck mentality.
This issue isn’t about securing our borders,it’s about the Gillard Gov doing anything to stay in power eg pandering to the polls in Sydney’s outer west.

LifeofY says:

10:36am | 06/07/10

Well I for one am scared blind by these ‘boat people’.
I mean they arrive in their boats (I use the term loosely as some would really be considered rafts or less), with nothing but the shirts on their backs. They leave their families and friends, and spend sometimes months at sea watching those around them suffer and sometimes die.  They leave war torn countries where they have nothing and live in fear, in the hope of finding a country that might offer them a chance at a better life, and might treat them with some compassion.
They take jobs that no Australian wants, such as the Aged Care industry which is understaffed as is and will continue to get worse as the Baby Boomers retire. They pay their taxes and try to become members of the community.
And while there is a process available to them to enter without arriving illegally on a boat, how many fear they won’t live long enough to see that red tape cut down?
Yes, people, be very afraid, for it is better to fear these people, rather than show a little compassion for what they have been through.
And really, if Tony Abbott has his way we’ll just tow the boats back out to sea and with any luck they’ll sink and drown and they won’t be our problem anymore. Brilliant Tony!

Jenni says:

10:38am | 06/07/10

Dan - You’re right in a way, 3500 is a mere trickle compared to the flood that will take advantage if we relax what little border protection we have. But hey, let’s just open the borders and let them all in shall we, and let’s not bother with background checks either, I’m sure they’re ALL good people, right?

I have no issue with granting protection to refugees, I do however think there needs to be measures in place to ensure that those who need it the most are the ones we help. And no, I don’t thjink someone who is already in a relatively safe country like Indonesia *and* has $10-20000 cash handy is in *need* of our help as much as those in the squalid camps who are desperately waiting for an opportunity for a better life.

We *cannot* help everybody, we don’t have the resources to do so, nor the infrastructure to support an endless stream of immigrants. Whilst our capability to offer help is limited (as it always will be) I want to see our help go to those who need it the most - why does this belief earn me the label of “racist”?

Matt says:

10:39am | 06/07/10

I love the demonising of “The Left”, especially when someone tries to make the “humanitarian brigade” sound like an insult.

Last time I looked I didn’t think there was anything wrong with being humanitarian. Or with wanting to help people who are less fortunate than ourselves?

Take a good look inside your dark little hearts people.

Phil says:

11:02am | 06/07/10

Matt

There is nothing wrong with being humanitarian.

Do you agree that having money should allow you to have residency in Australia and if not then your out? Would you agree with a similar medical system? Of course not.

Many on both sides of politics dont want illegal immigrants coming to our shores risking life and limb to get here, paying people smugglers to bring them.

Most on both sides have no issue with genuine refugees coming to our shores, in fact many right wing voters would welcome an increase in numbers, just ones that come in the front rather than back door.

Anyone who flies to another country is hardly risking their lives in pursuit of safety, rather country shopping.

Jezza says:

11:06am | 06/07/10

I have seen for myself the devastation that English culture is undergoing. I lived in England for a year in 1978. Yes, they had a lot of migrants from many different countries but England still remained a beautiful place to be. I have been beack twice since then & the last time I was devastated to see what’s goping on. Uncontrolled migration via “I can’t go back to my country because I’ll be killed!” These same people who were given sanctuary by the English are now marching in the streets with placards that read “Sharia Law NOW!” and “All of England will become Moslem!” and “Allah’s Laws Only!” It was treeifying & I couldn’t get away from it quickly enough. If we don’t stop this illegal invasion we will not have a free & happy country very soon.

iain m says:

11:09am | 06/07/10

On my last trip back to UK to visit the old home town I went shopping with my daughter in law to Preston, Lancs. I drove up to and went into the car park of what used to be ‘St George’ shopping centre. It is now called The Mall.  Seeing that I have not been in the UK for 2 years and being a little curious I asked a shop assistant in Marks & Spencers just the same as Myers over here why the change of name? Apparently the Iman of the mosque got a petition together in Preston and complained that the name ‘St George’ wasn’t suitable for a shopping precinct’.

jackie says:

11:53am | 06/07/10

Ryan, Bradford, Brixton, plenty of no go zones in London now.

If you want to go to England then stay away from London.

The real shame is that English culture is disappearing under a world of other cultures who appear to not want to assimilate and actively and quite openly disparage and reject the culture and norms of the country that they have moved to, ie, England.

Whether or not that happens here in Australia is yet to be seen but London, or many of the big English cities clearly show the risk of allowing unchecked immigration.

Troy says:

11:55am | 06/07/10

LifeofY, So what you are saying is, that Australia should just welcome these iilegals with open arms. If these people are so desperate and fleeing from war torn countries, then why havent they claimed asylum at the first safe country they got to? Why is that they choose to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to take a journey on the open sea by paying people smugglers, when they would only have to spend $1500 on plane fare and claim asylum at the airport? Why is it that over 70% of them choose to fly to Indoenesia with there passports and then take a very dangerous journey by boat and suddenly there passport and documents disappear before they are picked up by Australian boats? Your argument for refugee status for these people would have some merit if these questions could be answered, also I would like to know what you would do with the refugees that are sitting in squaller camps waiting for there chance to come to Australia but dont have the money to pay smugglers to get them here? Many of them die while they wait, while the rich boat people take there spots as Australia only takes 12000 people a year under there refugee program. Also how humanitarian is it to encourage people to risk there lives to come here via boat? Over 100 have already died trying to get here since KRudd opened our boarders. The left may act like there are humanitarians, but the reality is there policys are actually indirectly responsible for the death of these boat people.

Not happy Jan... says:

12:32pm | 06/07/10

@ Life of Y - No taxes paid by boat persons. We pay them for the luxury of allowing them to stay. Compare the payments & allowances made to “refugees”, “aliens”, “illegals”, whatever the terminology to those made to our seniors. You will find that we actually don’y look after our own nearly as well as we look after new Australians. Our seniors have contributed all their working lives through taxes etc but don’t qualify for nearly as much in govt handouts as those newly arrived. But then again, our seniors don’t rate against our dolies either.

Don says:

12:45pm | 06/07/10

All of you folks who think a lot of these people are not a danger, you should read the 2002 book called ” Beyond the Razor Wire “, google for it and see if it is still available. These boat people come from a violent place and , well , Australians are thought to be ‘stupid’ , that is why they come here and say ” gimme gimme gimme “. Read this well written book and see what you think then.

Brad of Bentleigh says:

12:45pm | 06/07/10

@Matt - the brigade comment was not intended to be pejorative term. Perhaps a poorly executed attempt at depicting the usual suspects if you will. You know the ones, the same old talking heads banging on about boat people, and misrepresenting the facts by throwing around the same old non arguments - and blaming the conservatives for all of it.

I’m waiting to gauge the reaction of “the left” - now that their favoured [mainstream] party is adopting conservative policy on this issue. I find it amusing that this is the fault of conservatives, do you not agree?

PS: Nothing at all wrong with being humaitarian - I think most decent people are to varying degrees, and it’s easy to take a hard line when you’re a long way away from any visible face of such policy.

LifeofY says:

12:45pm | 06/07/10

I believe my point is that ‘fear’ not an appropriate word to use when dealing with asylum seekers, and that Tony’s solution is not really a solution and also lacks compassion.
And these people do pay taxes when they gain employment in the industries no one else wants to work in.
But my arguments are no longer needed as Julia Gillard just did a brilliant job of smacking down Tony’s policies and giving the Australian people the actual facts.
Brilliant move Julia!!

Jon Underwood says:

01:03pm | 06/07/10

why don’t you idiots whinge about the uncountable number of illegal Brits in this country?  queuejumpers?!  Far more than come over on a boat.

James1 says:

04:07pm | 06/07/10

Not Happy Jan,

If seriously believe that a resettled refugee gets more in benefits than an old age pensioner, you need to stop believing everything you read in unattributed emails, because that is an outright lie.

Also, I pity you poor, scared people.  It must be hard living in fear as you do.  You should go and talk to some of my Afghan friends who fled the Taliban.  They could teach you a think or two about what it means to be scared.

Dan says:

05:05pm | 06/07/10

Ryan, how is that relevent? Are you suggesting that because the UK messed up its integration policies (as opposed to us), we shouldn’t let in asylum seekers. How intelligent.

Jenni,  ‘3500 is a mere trickle compared to the flood that will take advantage if we relax what little border protection we have.’

Are you serious? What flood is there?

‘But hey, let’s just open the borders and let them all in shall we,’

I don’t recall saying that. However, again, you do realise that there are not that many?

‘and let’s not bother with background checks either, I’m sure they’re ALL good people, right?’

I never said that. Do you make things up because you can’t be bothered reading the original post or because you need to defend your indefensible views?

Jezza, there is no illegal invasion. Just so you know, comments like that are racist.

Eric says:

06:39pm | 06/07/10

Oh, Dan, I knew you would pull the race card - and you did not disappoint. Cheers for using ineffective smear tactics!

Want to see a flood, then just look at Europe or the US. Both facing serious problems from vast numbers of illegal immigrants - an estimated 30 million in the US alone. How would another 30 million people on top of our existing population of 22 million look?

Incidentally, a large part of the UK’s problems are caused by ... wait for it ... illegal immigrants posing as asylum seekers!

Jon says:

07:07pm | 06/07/10

Thank you Jackie, some insight at last.

Jon says:

08:02pm | 06/07/10

Thank you Jezza, yes, the same old apologists are out with their secret agendas, trying to confuse the issues with their racist and xenophobia chanting.

Ryan says:

10:55am | 07/07/10

@Dan : you care to explain how our immigration policy is any different? So the results in England are extremely relevant.

“All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from mistakes.”

Clearly by doing the same here (as Labor have done over the past few years), we are going to make EXACTLY the same mistake. Logical!

Dan says:

02:31pm | 07/07/10

Ryan,  ‘you care to explain how our immigration policy is any different? So the results in England are extremely relevant.’

I already did. We are much more successful at integrating different groups. England isn’t; thus it isn’t relevent.

’ “All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from mistakes.” ‘

Nice one-liner, but anyone can come up with a good quote. It doesn’t mean anything.

’ Clearly by doing the same here (as Labor have done over the past few years), we are going to make EXACTLY the same mistake.’

Uh, no. There is no indication that we will. You do realise that England’s mistake wasn’t allowing in asylum seeker sbut not having adequate integration policies?

‘Logical!’

If you say so.

Peter says:

08:02am | 06/07/10

If you can’t see the difference between an ordinary bloke re-financing his mortgage with an Australian bank, and the Australian Defence Minister receiving repeated gifts, favours and travel from a person with strong connections to the Chinese Communist Party, then I feel sorry for your level of ignorance.

TimB says:

08:02am | 06/07/10

Jeeze Christian, how do you manage to hear yourself think with all those bees in your bonnet?
So he forgot to list his mortgage. Exactly what implications does this have beyond your hysterical “OMG he broke the RULEZ!”.  On the 1-10 scale of parliamentary rule breaches its about a 0.2. It’s about as big a deal as if I crossed against the lights when there were no cars to be seen for miles. Sure it’s tecnically jaywalking, but really who cares? Apart from uptight obsessive individuals such as yourself I mean. 

(Really do you have to trawl through and quote every article you can find that even has a hint of portraying the Liberals in a negative light? Are you that desperate?)

Stacked up against many of the things that Labor have done recently (such as taxpayer funded political advertising despite it being a “cancer on democracy”) it’s an absolute non-issue.

Brad of Bentleigh says:

08:08am | 06/07/10

errr, I thought this story was about Julia Gillard’s boat people policy?
What exactly does Abbott’s home loan have to do with it?

Besides, this is a non story, if it had legs, the left leaning media would have ran it down weeks ago. Try again junior.

Rosie says:

08:09am | 06/07/10

Christain Real

Tony’s housing loan was his personal problem and if he lied about it so be it! The asylum seekers is a problem for all Australians and we need to stop the boats coming in. Period! The Howard Govt in which Tony Abbott was part of copped a lot of flak when their policy was introduced. It was carried out and we have proof it works. We wouldn’t be having this discussion if the Rudd Govt left it as is and not try to use it for political gains.

T.Chong says:

08:39am | 06/07/10

Peter- the leader of the Opposition is an ordinary bloke- undoubtedly he is, but his job title requires him to be a bit more honest than the average bloke, and Rosie “if he lied about it, so be it “
Yeah, I’d be proud of a leader who lies constantly too, (scripted v unscripted )
Its a funny tactic of trying to turn an obvios character flaw into a virtue, but Phoney has a long history of it - ” Oh !, That meeting with Cardinal Pell, the one I denied as having happened ”

Christian Real says:

08:58am | 06/07/10

Peter, Tim B, Brad, and Rosie.
I disagree with the lot of you because, the bottom line is that Tony Abbott breached the rules of Parliament by failing to declare this loan. Once you are a member of Parliament Rosie, it is no longer Tony Abbott’s personal problem as you say.
The Rules of Parliament state: “Parliament requires all MPs to register any changes to interests, benefits or liabilities within 28 days”
The rules of Parliament could not be any more clearer and defined as that( all MPs, and that includes Tony Abbott.
As for the boat people,anyone not meeting the critera for becoming Australian citizens should be sent back to their Countries of origin.
Also those that have already been granted Australian citizenship, that break our laws, should not be put in jail here, but should have their citizenship revoked and sent back home to their Country of origin.

Seano says:

09:24am | 06/07/10

The defence of Abbott over his undeclared 700k mortgage is just plain ridiculous and says a lot about the conservative demagoguery. No it wasn’t the crime of the century but we have these rules in place for an important reason. To prevent corruption. Not one of you would have accepted a Labor pollie in same boat, but you defend Tony to the death. Says a lot.

Christian Real says:

09:38am | 06/07/10

Rosie,
I like to keep an open-minded opinion on these people, unlike some insecure Australians that feel threatened by their presence on our shores, and see these people as a problem.
I wonder what my Aboriginal ancestors thought and felt, when the English and Europeans arrived on their shores and took over their Country, their lands and stole their children, and their rights.
For a long time Rosie, our Aboriginal ancestors were treated like second class citizens and aliens in their own Country from the English who settled here in this Country.
I have compassion for other human beings and I don’t see that as a failure,but as a bonus that I have acquired during my lifetime.
I do not feel afraid, feel threatened or feel insecure by the arrival of these asylum seekers,some genuinely seeking to better their lives, for themselves and their families,in a safe and secure haven, without the threat of living in fear of the turmoil and unrests that has overtaken their countries.
As a person with Christian beliefs,  Rosie, I ask myself, would the Lord Jesus turn these people away, and I feel that the answer is no that he would not.

TimB says:

09:41am | 06/07/10

@ Christian Real. And in your hysteria, did you bother to check out the penalties for Tony’s minor misdemeanour?
I’ll point you in the right direction: what he’s (technically) guilty of is something “called contempt of parliament”.
I’ll leave it up to your formidable google skills to find out for yourself as to why there is absolutely no reason for him to be stood down as leader.

I look forward to your admission of being mistaken as to the severity of his breach. If no such admission is forthcoming, it just proves you care not for facts, only for your ideology driven agenda.

Rosie says:

09:47am | 06/07/10

T.Chong & Christian Real

Please get real! Tony Abbott not mentioning his housing loan is peanuts compared to Kevin07 & the Labour Party’s promises to the people of Australia which they either didn’t carry out or messed up at the expense of the taxpayer. Why is Tony Abbott still a member of Parliament if he broke Parliamentary Rules? Maybe it is insignificant. Personally I couldn’t care less as there are more important issues, eg health, education, interest rates, employment and an Australia for future generations. My advice to you guys is let it rest as the aslyum seekers issue concerns all Australians and not just those that support a “flip flop flap” govt.

Preventing all asylum seekers from setting foot on our shores will prevent Australia dealing with inhumane issues. Using this sensitive problem for politcal gain, typical of the Labour Govt, will only prolong the problem! I rest my case!

Rosie says:

11:00am | 06/07/10

Ooooops!
“they belong to the land and not the land belonging to them”

Rosie says:

11:32am | 06/07/10

This “Ooooops!
“they belong to the land and not the land belonging to them”
does not make any sense without the comments below” However, I am going to correct the mistake before submitting.

Hi again Seano,

Yeah it wasn’t the crime of the century so who cares, only folks like yourself.

Christian Real

I lived in Tennant Creek for 2 years at it is people like yourself the “do gooders” that made the problem worse for the indigenous people. “Do gooders” seem to think humanitarian problems do not exist. I was able to see for myself the damage alcohol had done to these people. It is not their fault and I am no expert to how the problem could be solved. However, what I do know and marvelled at was their love for the land, they belong to the land and not the land belonging to them. If I was to have my say I would like this to be taken into account when trying to solve the problems that the indigenous people are facing.

Taking a tough stance for the betterment of this country is considered inhumane. If there is no political gain these problems can be solved in a humane manner by our politicians. I am very happy with the Liberal Party’s tough stance as I cannot see any other solution. Australia is my adopted country and arrived here when those with fair skin found it easy to be given a visa and 6 months later applied and became a citizen. This country has come a long way since and only for the best. My children and their children are the winners here as I have been able to instil into them the best of both worlds!

Tails says:

11:56am | 06/07/10

T.Chong and Christian Real - Right on brothers! Keep sticking it to the man! You shall not be silenced! The workers united will never be…um, something that rhymes with united! Deflect! Deflect! Spin! Shun! KaPow!

Troy says:

12:08pm | 06/07/10

Seriously Mate, if thats the best you got on Tony Abbott, then he will win the elction by a landslide. Hes got a morgage (just like me) and he refinanced it. Big Deal. If anything it puts him more in touch with the realitys of every Australian voter. I wonder if you would be concerned about Gilliards links to the communist movement in the 80s, or the fact being a single women with no kids, doesnt give the understanding of what working familys have to deal with every day. You can knit pick anyone if you try hard enough.

Fine Point says:

12:11pm | 06/07/10

People died during Labor’s insulation failure.  That is worth more that not declaring a mortgage.

Seano says:

02:40pm | 06/07/10

@Rosie - “Yeah it wasn’t the crime of the century so who cares, only folks like yourself.”

You mean people who are concerned about the risk that our parliament might be open to corruption then yes, only sensible people care. Of course everyone gets to vote.

Seano says:

02:44pm | 06/07/10

@Troy - the point is not that Abbott has a mortgage it’s that he failed to declare it. A serious breach of parliamentary rules which intended to keep out corruption. It’s not up to Abbott to decide whether his interests are important or not. It’s the same rule for everybody.

TimB says:

03:12pm | 06/07/10

@ Seano, yes he did break the rules. No-one here is denying that. He copped it on the chin, and declared the debt once the oversight came to light.
It wasn’t a big deal because the oversight was of little importance. As opposed to say, secretly holding shares in a company whilst simultaneously being involved in debating legislation that would majorly affect said company. THAT would be a big deal.

To suggest as (Christian Real did) that he should be dumped from the leadership over it is absurd, and you know it. That is what we’re defending Tony against- moronic nitpicking over minor non-issues.

Seano says:

04:25pm | 06/07/10

@TimB - it absolutely is not a minor issue. The cause of the breach a 700k mortgage was minor but breaching the rules is a big deal. Abbott hardly took it on the chin, he like much of the right wing “intelligencia” have taken a “big deal” and “who cares” kind of attitude. It’s the same rule for everyone to prevent corruption and therefore it’s important. The “it was a simple mistake” defence is moronic seeing as this bloke wants to run our 7 trillion dollar economy.

TimB says:

06:18pm | 06/07/10

Alright Seano, let’s try this. For arguments sake, lets pretend that you’re right and it is a big importan deal etc etc.

Where’s the punishment? What’s going to happen to Abbot? I’m sure that Labor is currently preparing the case for the prosecution to ensure that Abbott cops the full force of what he has coming to him….

Oh wait. Nothing has happened. Nopthing is going to happen. See if you can figure out why. Try to avoid wild conspiracy theories if you can.

Freeman says:

08:35pm | 06/07/10

Seano and Christian Real
Wow, you dudes are desperate. the truth is that abbott DID originally declare his mortgage. what he didn’t declare for a space of two years is that he refinanced that mortgage which meant it was not considered the same loan. he had ammended that before it reached the news. so technically, a breach of the rules of parliment that got the coverage it deserved, two days in the news (june 22nd and 23rd) and barely mentioned since. Labor MP’s and ministers barely mentioned it themselves and are not persuing any action over it but you guys are still running with it. ahhh
funny stuff,  boys, keep fighting the good fight!

Jason says:

10:45pm | 06/07/10

Christian, not sure why you want Tony to stand down - he’s apparently your ticket to an easy Labor victory isn’t he?? hmmmm or is he??

T.Chong says:

07:50am | 06/07/10

DD, please outline the LNP about sustainable growth, because, they (the LNP ) havent publicly done so yet.
You must have some very good contacts,.

T.Chong says:

08:01am | 06/07/10

Apologies DD, post should read : “the LNP policies” about sustainable growth….,

Against the Man says:

08:38am | 06/07/10

Where is Kevin Rudd?
How much money has the ALP wasted?
Why have they wasted the last 2 1/2 doing nothing?
What a bunch of twits we have running this joke of a party called the ALP.

Ryan says:

10:12am | 06/07/10

@T. Chong: its called a “track record” the LNP has a track record of paying off successive Labor government debts, returning prosperity and wealth to all of its people and good governance that is the envy of the world. Labor has a track record of NEVER paying off its debts, spending up big and sending the people broke. We see it now, we have spiraling grocery prices, spiraling house prices and out of control costs that people have no choice but to pay. The retail sector is copping it hard because people have no money, for one and only reason.. BAD Labor government. Now we had a change because we all thought we needed a change of scenery, lets hope we learned our lesson before we are plunged into a cesspool of communism under Gillard.

Dognuts says:

12:24pm | 06/07/10

@ Ryan. I hope you are joking….......

“We see it now, we have spiraling grocery prices, spiraling house prices and out of control costs that people have no choice but to pay. The retail sector is copping it hard because people have no money, for one and only reason.. BAD Labor government.”

It’s called capitalism and prosperity, sunshine. Wasn’t too long ago that JWH proclaimed that “no one complained to me that the value of their house had risen”. House prices are high because we have speculators and a strange fascination with home ownership. The market drives this, not the government. Remember the old saying “a house in suburb X might not be worth $750k, but you need that much to buy it”.Grocery price rises are a result of higher wages and a drive to increase profits. Investor return requires greater profits, hence while your super grows, you in turn are contributing to it by paying more at the till (deliciously ironic, don’t you think?). To think that Tony Abbott(or any politician of any persuasion for that matter) would bring down cost of living is truly a pipe dream. And as for the Communism line, wouldn’t we all be better off if we all were paid the same, dressed the same, ate the same etc. in true Communist style?

Anthony of WA says:

08:46am | 06/07/10

Sherekahn, you’ve hit the nail on the head.We keep hearing more arrive by plane than by boat, a flight from Bali to Perth cost a few hundred dollars. Why on earth would someone who has flown into Indonsian not simple just jump on another flight?

iansand says:

09:44am | 06/07/10

Why must a refugee be poor?

Tom Jones says:

10:29am | 06/07/10

iansand
Its not a matter of a refugee being rich or poor its the fact the system is unfair and that it favours those with a large chunk of cash.  What you will find is that many so called refugees are in a financially adventageous position where they are able to sell off assets (businesses, houses etc) to fund their expedition while those with little money dont make the trip at all or get stuck in detention centres in Indonesia and the like and cant go any further as they dont have the money to bribe officials.  There are many genuine refugees who have been stuck in this situation for years.
Anyway why take a dangerous journey on a boat when you can jump on a plane, get off at Sydney, cry “Refugee” and be processed under the same floored system.  The smugglers are profiteering off our soft, left wing naive policy and the screening process is an absolute joke.  DIAC (who basically run the detention centre)  will believe anything they are told by these unknowns and do little to verify their stories.  Would you trust someone who throws their ID off the side of a boat on route to Australia?  Think this is paranoia and doesnt happen?  Think again…

iansand says:

11:00am | 06/07/10

Tom Jones - So you would prefer our refugees not to be entrepreneurial types.  Ok.

WayneT says:

12:09pm | 06/07/10

Another reason they don’t travel by plane is that they require identification to travel or enter the country.  It would then be a simple matter of establishing their status as a possible refugee.  They know that they will be found out and be deported as an illegal immigrant instead.  Hence they travel by boat, dumping any identification along the way, because our piss poor system gives this type of entrant preferential treatment in their evaluations for refugee status.  None of these boat arrivals traveled directly from Sri Lanka or Afghanistan.  They all left 2nd or 3rd countries from where these boats operate.  They had ID when they hit these countries so why would they need to destroy them to come to Australia, unless they were not genuine?

Doh says:

12:26pm | 06/07/10

@iansand

Entrepreneurs that cheat and rort the system?  Entrepreneurs that like to misplace documentation??

Tom Jones says:

12:50pm | 06/07/10

No iansand this is not what Im saying.
I would prefer our refugees to be genuine refugees who are who they say they are whether they are rich or poor.  You obviously have little understanding of how the illegal trade of people smuggling works and this ignorance is shared by the current Govt.  Im all for taking our countries share of genuine cases, not people who are rorting the system because they simply want a better standard of living or are running from something they have done.  Our politicians get elected and paid a handsome wage to figure these problems out so it is up to them to make changes as the system is not working.

iansand says:

03:51pm | 06/07/10

@Doh - At one level or another that describes a lot of entrpreneurs.

@Tom Jones - But the vast majority of boat arrivals are found to be genuine refugees.  So they are “genuine cases”.  Do you want to have another go?

Tom Jones says:

09:25am | 07/07/10

And what proof do you have of this iansand?  Have you beed to the detention centre or mabye spoken to someone that has or do you just believe what DIAC and the Govt tell you?

MarK says:

09:50am | 06/07/10

Damn keyboard running out of batteries lawl.

The FIVE billion it cost us not the 1.5 billion stated. Gawd Roja will be frothing at the mouth

Against the Man says:

10:12am | 06/07/10

By voting Labor out it sends a message that we the Australian people will not put up with anymore BS from the ALP aka the useless party. Stop voting them in so that they can screw you over like they did to their poster boy Kevin ‘the dud’ Rudd.

Sherekahn says:

10:13am | 06/07/10

Daryl, You mean, pull up the drawbridge, lower the portcullis, dry-dock all our rescue ships, stabilise our population and send all older citizens to adult college to learn to read and understand, as there are some desperate commenters here could do with it.

Troy says:

01:35pm | 06/07/10

Sure James, But Tony Abbott stop us from KRudds ETS tax, and managed to get KRudd sacked from his own party. Also managed to sack the most popular Labor leader in history in his first term. No easy feat by anybodys reckoning. On top of all that, he has had the highest polls for any Liberal leader since JWH, and if Labor didnt sack KRudd he would win the next election. Now Gillard poses another challange but Tony has over come everything put in front him so far, so I wouldnt rule him out just eyt.

Debbie says:

05:11pm | 07/07/10

Is that you Tony ?

James1 says:

04:13pm | 06/07/10

Slim pickings indeed in terms of refugee policy, Stewart.  I do like the fact that Abbott is talking about increasing overall refugee intakes though.  To be honest, I never thought you and I would agree on anything…

Sherekahn says:

08:10am | 07/07/10

It is indeed like watching a verbal example of that recent record tennis match.  only this is “the mushies versus the logicals.”
Don’t shoot the messenger, she’s just lobbing stink-bombs.