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They come on one-way tickets, speak no Indonesian

Ian McPhedran

by Ian McPhedran

29 Jun 05:45am

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Filed under: Asylum Seekers, Boat People, Border Security, Christmas Island, People Smugglers, Politics, Refugees

103 comments

As Labor and Coalition politicians wallow in a moral quagmire while failing to settle on the difficult issue of how to prevent boat people from risking their lives at sea, many people are asking: What is Indonesia is doing about it?

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According to well-placed sources, about 300 displaced people or economic refugees arrive each week at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport. They come in on one-way tickets from places like Dubai, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur and they carry fake travel documents.

They speak no Indonesian, they have no job to go to and they move straight from the airport to a half-way house run by one of a number of people-smuggling syndicates with close links to Indonesian officials. But most do have cash lots of cash.

From the crowded suburbs of Jakarta they are delivered to one of a number of small fishing ports along Java’s south coast where they board small, unsafe and overcrowded vessels for the perilous open sea journey to Christmas Island or Ashmore Reef.

These “fishing” boats crammed with human cargo sail right under the noses of Indonesian authorities and if the poor souls on board are lucky (about 700 have perished since 2007) they arrive in Australian waters, and into the welcoming arms of the Royal Australian Navy or Border Protection Command, a few days later.

Australia provides about $342 million a year in foreign aid funds to Indonesia, where more that 120 million people live below the poverty line. In addition, the Australian Federal Police spends tens of millions more training Indonesian police and liaising with Indonesian authorities on a range of issues, with people smuggling at the top of the list.

Meanwhile, Australia taxpayers fork out in excess of a billion dollars a year to house and process irregular ntsillegalnte arrivals after they land here.

Given the number of boats now sailing from Indonesia to Australia, it is fair to assume that some of this spending will come under close scrutiny given the state of the federal Budget and the Government’s obsession with achieving a surplus.

People smuggling is a growth industry in Indonesia and the AFP and their Indonesian National Police comrades appear powerless to stop it.

High-level corruption has been a fact of political life in Indonesia for decades. To his credit, the current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has done more than any other leader to stem this dodgy tide, but when it comes to people smuggling the profits are potentially so great that even he has been unable to slow the insidious trade in human misery.

The fact that Jakarta refuses to sign the UN Refugee Convention does not help.

Julia Gillard’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr is aparently too busy trying to solve problems in the Middle East and Burma to address the most pressing foreign policy challenge facing his Government and the nation.

That is how to encourage Jakarta to take the boat people issue more seriously and to do something about it at the barrier inside Jakarta international airport or at the fishing ports along Java’s coastline.

Stopping people at the airport barrier is not difficult. Just ask an Australian tourist who arrives in Jakarta without proof of a return ticket and at least six months on their passport.

It is increasingly difficult for Australia to lecture Indonesia when our court system accepts the testimony of poor Indonesian fishermen that they were just “out fishing’’ with a boat full of Iranian “tourists’’ when they lost their way and stumbled upon Christmas Island. It was an Australian jury that found them not guilty.

We know what our politicians are doing about this terrible problem: nothing.

The flood of boat people out of Indonesia begs a simple question: why do Indonesian authorities refuse to stop the flow?

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Most commented

103 comments

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    • Fiddler says:

      06:22am | 29/06/12

      Because they don’t care and it’s not their problem?

      I would suggest that corruption involving a number of their customs agents could also be a factor. One thing is for certain, they don’t care, it isn’t a priority. If it were they would do something about it, as described. We need to hold the big stick of Foreign Aid.

      Speaking of which exactly why do we give Indonesia Foregin Aid? They have ten times our population and have been settled with civilisation and their own culture far longer than we have.

      Reply

    • Kika says:

      10:37am | 29/06/12

      To re-educate them into not bombing us while we’re on holiday in Bali. I think you’d find that’s the main reason.

    • Tom says:

      03:15pm | 29/06/12

      Kika, ... “re-educate”? ... re-educate? OMG. How is the err ...“re-education” program going? Enough teachers?

      I think I could learn not to bomb anyone.Can I have a bit of that money please?

    • Kika says:

      04:57pm | 29/06/12

      Hey it’s not my programme and funding! Ask John Howard why he started sending money to Indonesia!

    • Dr B S Goh, Australian in Asia says:

      06:46am | 29/06/12

      Please do not blame any Asian neighbour for our stupidity> Our leaders particularly the Greens politically correct brigades have let us down badly. We live in a tough neighbourhood and we are so blind that we do not realize the dangers we are in. We are so naive and feel guilty and not aware that we are being taken advantage of big time.

      Lets look at the key facts. If you google you will find from UN statistics that there are about 43,000,000 refugees in the World. So no matter what we do we shall not have any significant impact on the tragic and nasty situation in the World. Even USA or EU each more than 12 times our size population wise cannot do much.

      Our budget this year allows 13,750 refugees to enter Australia. To date more than 4,600 has come by boats. These boatpeople have hijacked our refugee program. Why do the Greens not think of the millions of refugees waiting under atrocious conditions waiting for help. Thousands DIE each year in unsanitary situation in refugee camps. The boatpeople have stolen the places from these genuine refugees. The Greens are accomplices to these thefts. The politicians should cry for these cheated and suffering genuine refugees.

      The Greens of all political parties should know and understand the looming critical food crisis in Asia. In the words on Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University we are five minutes to midnight. Also see Clark’s video at: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/2011-06/15/content_12702559.htm

      When the critical food crisis occurs Australia is at risk of being swamped by a tsunami of millions of boatpeople from Asia.

      We must NOW destroy the universal belief in Asia that Australia welcomes boatpeople. If not we are finished as a Nation.

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      08:03am | 29/06/12

      You’re regurgitating old stuff Doc and then also trying to add scarfe tactics re food crisis.
      Food production in many nations can be ramped up and if more people are in Australia to help with watering of arid lands here for that, so be it.

      As for the Greens, very healthy they are and on politics, just be thankful they have averted for now Australia being a country with government sponsored people trafficking, also very healthy.

    • Wayne says:

      08:16am | 29/06/12

      Thank you,  Dr BS Goh.

      A very insightful comment—more please.

      When is Australia going to wake up that we are being taken for suckers.

    • Janey says:

      09:25am | 29/06/12

      BS Goh, I really enjoy reading your contributions.

    • Bear says:

      10:02am | 29/06/12

      Yea janey. Apt name. B S. I wonder if it’s deliberate!?

    • Peter says:

      10:27am | 29/06/12

      Gregg - your comments are simplistic and evidence you have no real understanding of science, weather, population growth or the Green party. Please keep these child-like comments personal dude!

    • Kika says:

      10:42am | 29/06/12

      Is that per financial year, or end of year Dr Goh. If it’s financial year than we’ve got the budget for them. Please clarify.

    • el-viejo says:

      12:11pm | 29/06/12

      “In the words on Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University we are five minutes to midnight.”

      If this is the case, we have nothing to worry about. Paul Ehrlich is notorious for his catastrophic prophecies of doom never coming to pass. Amiong his more famous quotes I particularly like this one, from 1970 speech: “When you reach a point where you realize further efforts will be futile, you may as well look after yourself and your friends and enjoy what little time you have left. That point for me is 1972.”[

    • Dr B S Goh, Australian in Asia says:

      12:21pm | 29/06/12

      @ Kika.

      I think you have misunderstood my position on refugees. I am in favour of Australia increasing its refugee intake to at least double its present budget. To achieve that and have the support of the general public we must stop the boatpeople, period. Thus the boatpeople has also prevented my hope that Australia increases it annual refugee intake.

      The boatpeople have hijacked the Australian refugee program. They are stealing the places of many suffering refugees who are suffering in refugee camps, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Tamils_in_India.

      I urge the Australian Govt to focus on the Tamil refugees in places like India and provide an orderly process for these Tamil refugees.  Many of these Tamils are innocent victims of political conflicts. The Tamil refugees are ideal for Australia and many have some of the British traditions Australia has.

      I was privileged to work with a towering intellectual from Sri Lanka, C J Eliezer who studied in Cambridge University. He eventually migrated to Australia and made his contributions to Australia.

    • Joel says:

      12:23pm | 29/06/12

      @ Dr B S Goh

      “So no matter what we do we shall not have any significant impact on the tragic and nasty situation in the World.”  - So do nothing? The world is screwed and we won’t be able to do anything anyways? I know I’m being facetious, but so are you.

      “The boatpeople have stolen the places from these genuine refugees.” - The large percentage of boatpeople that get granted refugee status means that your opinion is moot. They are genuine refugees just like the genuine refugees in camps.  They are desperate people that take desperate risks, using what they have to do whatever they can. How dare they!!!

      Your overall comment has been published on every immigration-related article on this site and its scare-mongering BS. Shut up and stay out of Australia.

    • Dr B S Goh, Australian in Asia says:

      12:34pm | 29/06/12

      @ Joel .

      If you happen to be a Green Party MP and enjoying your holiday break the shopkeepers in Asia would love to have naive people like you.

    • Tom says:

      03:29pm | 29/06/12

      Joel, a wonderfully edifying comment. No wonder Australians hate your lot.

      Dr B S Goh, great comments. Please disregard the trolls.

    • Against the Man says:

      07:22am | 29/06/12

      Excuse me this isn’t a Coalition problem. Gillard is the frustrated failure in hot water and she will not engage Indonesia because she lacks the intelligence and diplomatic skills. Still no border policy? Another day another Labor failure smile

      Reply

    • KH says:

      07:23am | 29/06/12

      You answered your own question - they do nothing because they are being paid to do nothing. 

      Maybe its time to cut all aid to Indonesia.  Why should we prop up useless governments of other countries.  We have our own useless government to prop up - one is one too many.

      Reply

    • Joan says:

      09:12am | 29/06/12

      I guess the people smuggler trade promoted by Indonesia and its government is a money spinner for Indonesia - win win. Indonesia government receives multimillions of dollars from Gillard and locals make a roaring trade from cashed up illegals. Why would Indonesia give up asylum seeker cash cow with rigorous inspection of falsified documentation on entry to Indonesia- same documentation that always goes missing by the time illegals are deposited on Christmas Island - for a price.  Gillard minority government a bunch of suckers- all Asia is laughing at Gillard and don’t expect anything worthwhile from the unelected Carr the exblogger woken up from his slumber in pjs by Gillard emergency call, to strut the world stage. The backstabber and the unelected exblogger I doubt there is any respect for the pair nor power to make an impact anywhere on the world stage.

    • off centre says:

      11:51am | 29/06/12

      Agreed, I still don’t understand why we are giving foreign aid to Indonesia when they quite clearly couldn’t give a rats about this issue. Letting those boats sail means their government is fully complicit in the people smuggling trade

    • Lesley Watkins says:

      07:48am | 29/06/12

      Tony Abbott and his Coalition have blood on their hands. Labor are the only party genuinely addressing the asylum seeker issue. No wonder only fools vote Coalition. Smart people vote Labor.

      Reply

    • year of the dragon says:

      08:11am | 29/06/12

      On this forum there is a mix and range of ideologies; informed and half-baked opinions from all sides and the odd troll. All contribute some substance to the discussion.

      With the exception of Lesley Watkins. None are so infantile, so tedious and so boring as Lesley Watkins.

      Mate - I am sincerely concerned for your mental health. For your own sake (and ours), go read a book, watch a movie or dig a hole. Anything but continuing what must be mind-sapping trolling on the internet. If you must blog, at least cut and paste from the ALP’s press releases as people from both sides do. It doesn’t require too much thought but at least contributes of some substance.

    • dweezy2176 says:

      08:16am | 29/06/12

      Even Acotrel’s rusted on Laborisms makes more sense than this gibberish!

    • nihonin says:

      08:24am | 29/06/12

      Labor are the only party genuinely addressing the asylum seeker issue.

      I had to lol at this comment looking back to 2007-8, thanks Lesley needed a good laugh this morning.

    • Lesley What? says:

      09:05am | 29/06/12

      Genuinely smart people don’t need to constantly assert their intelligence by posting the same meaningless comments day in day out on a forum

    • Austin 3:16 says:

      09:15am | 29/06/12

      You’ll have to wait about 18 months or so until Tony Abbott is PM.

      Up until then the problem belongs to the current PM. Remember she took over about 2 years ago with a promise to quickly fix the cabon tax, the mining tax and boat people.

      Hasn’t that all gone well.

    • MC2 says:

      09:23am | 29/06/12

      “Labor are the only party genuinely addressing the asylum seeker issue”

      Oh, and what progress has been made by Labor, precisely?  Love to hear about how successful Labor has been on this issue, so if you could tell us about how many fewer boats and illegals have arrived since Rudd, Gillard and crew reversed coalition policy, that would be just *super*.

    • Peter Bills says:

      11:48am | 29/06/12

      You’re an idiot…....

    • Lesley Watkins says:

      12:09pm | 29/06/12

      Looking at the replies my point is made 100%. Only smart people vote Labor. Its the Coalition for the monkeys.

    • Happymonkey says:

      12:54pm | 29/06/12

      For god’s sake, moderators. Erick was banned for far, far less.

    • Happymonkey says:

      12:58pm | 29/06/12

      ...and what’s wrong with monkeys?

    • Against the Man says:

      01:30pm | 29/06/12

      Lesley is in the same camp as acotrel, TChong, SD, aTg etc, if anything Lesley is making it worse for the ALP and the ALPers. They have so little if anything to work with, do they really need a nutter promoting their cause? smile

    • Kazz51 says:

      04:17pm | 29/06/12

      Have’nt I read this exact comment before? Then in line with your argument, the Labour Government AND the Greens ALSO have blood on their hands

    • All says:

      05:59pm | 29/06/12

      Leave off poor Lesley. Everyone in Labor hollowman teams need to start their poltical blogging somewhere. One day with a bit of tutoring, mentoring and practice we may receive comments from this source that rises above the ‘my dad can beat your dad’ standard.

    • Brenda's sister says:

      08:20am | 29/06/12

      It’s not up to Indonesia to keep these troublemakers in because they didn’t invite them and their illegal capers either - it’s up to Australia to keep them OUT.  Do we expect Indonesia to patrol their ports and arrest “potential” illegal passengers to Australia?  They want them GONE, and we suckers are not tough enough. Just let it be known that no boat passengers will get permanent residency and their most basic needs will only be temporarily met until it’s time to go back home. This racket is costing us billions while our own people are dying on hospital waiting lists. How unedifying is this spectacle - emergency health ready and waiting for these scammers and our own people can’t get a hospital bed.

      All this hypocritical weeping by the extremist Greens is enough to make a person vomit. 

      Milne and her Green mob ruined their own state. The pathetic Tas parliament exactly mirrors Federal government failures - a totally incompetent Green-propped disaster, run by an out of her depth Emily’s List female (incompetent Gillard clone)  who Tasmanians refer to as “child premier”. The Greens and Labor are bad news.  Gillard’s arrogant shenanigans caused our previously successful border controls to escalate into this hideous mess—- make her fix it. The Greens will only be satisfied when the floodgates are thrown open.

      Reply

    • HappyCynic says:

      09:14am | 29/06/12

      The one problem with your whole rant is no asylum seeker has broken any law.  You’re allowed to arrive in any country in any way you like if you want to claim asylum.

      Show me which laws are broken by an asylum seeker arriving in Australia, even without documentation.

      In the end the whole situation is just boring and irrelevant.  No one has any answers because there isn’t any problem.

    • Markus says:

      10:12am | 29/06/12

      @HappyCynic, from the Dept of Immigration website:
      “International law recognises that people at risk of persecution have a legal right to flee their country and seek refuge elsewhere, but does not give them a right to enter a country of which they are not a national. Nor do people at risk of persecution have a right to choose their preferred country of protection.”

      Australia’s only obligation under the UN Refugee Convention is to not refuse claims for asylum. How a country chooses to process asylum seekers is entirely up to the country in question, and as it stands any entry to Australian waters by a non-national without a Visa is considered illegal entry.

    • youdy beaudy says:

      08:27am | 29/06/12

      @Doctor Goh, I think that people being what they are and desperate to escape from other regimes would be seen as a fight or flight situation. To understand it i think we should put ourselves in their situation. Sure, there are some of those so called boat people who are unscrupulous but many would not be and in particular those who have brought their kids with them. What would we do in their situation?.

      As you wrote that with the upcoming world, not just indonesia, food famine which is coming down the track, not just to them, but to us as well. It is something to be concerned about, but surely we could be compassionate towards their plight.

      The world belongs to everyone of us. We have a right by God to go anywhere and be free and seek freedom and when the bad guys come along with their guns and we have nothing to defend ourselves with we have the right to run and we would do exactly the same as them i can assure us all. This them and us idea is wrong as we are all cut from the same cloth. Borders and fences separate us all.

      This lack of universal compassion is the very thing that has contributed to all of our wars and other inhumane tactics over the centuries. People are very good at quoting their religious philosophies to all talking about compassion of Jesus and whoever else but cannot apply it in reality. What’s that about?. Different strokes for different folks obviously.

      As an expert who was interviewed on TV over the same issue last night said.  Why would the Indonesians and Malays come to the fore on all this when they are publicly put down by the media and others in Australia. Why would they, would you.?

      Indonesia has their own internal problems like we do. A great nation Indonesia, as we see ourselves, with a President who is liked by his people who struggle to make ends meet also. Sure there are things of the past that their Army can’t be proud of but we have the same problems as we have not been perfectly good as well over the years. They have corruption, we have corruption.

      The food crisis will come and is coming because of the decline or future extinction of the honey bees and this is well documented. The Honey bee is the most studied insect on the planet. They are dying out and with their going we in Australia will be affected as well. It will come within the next 6 years or sooner to all of us world wide. This is a more important issue for humanity than boat people landing on our shores.

      I am of the opinion that illegal immigration cannot be stopped by anyone apart from the use of force as anyone including you and me will run down the road and do anything to survive. It is human instinct and a right to survive. Animals have no choice.

      I think that they should be brought into the country and processed here, sorted out, illegals sent home and those who are legitimate allowed to enter the community. I don’t think that we should worry about dying etc. because the God has killed us already. I would suggest that people read the words of Sri Krishna as he expounded life to Arjuna in the battlefield of life. That would be closer to the mark as far as life and death and clinging. I wouldn’t worry too much about some boat people having a meal and leaving us to starve. Mankind, the most stupid of monkeys, will have their armageddon regardless of boat people arrivals. It is written in the Stars already. We must be compassionate to others. This is the right way and that is what will make us one day hopefully a Great Nation. Unfortunately we are not that at the moment, we have a long way to go!

      Reply

    • pa_kelvin says:

      10:38am | 29/06/12

      Sure ,lets all join hands and chant ‘Hari Krishna Hari Hari…..) Come on every-body you know the words…..

    • pa_kelvin says:

      11:17am | 29/06/12

      Dont know aout anyone else ,but I feel the luuurve.;-b

    • TimR says:

      08:55am | 29/06/12

      How about: Any one who arrives on a boat will be sent back to their last port of call?
      That would stop the boats.
      Australia should take a select number of refugees from camps around the world. No more, no less.

      Reply

    • KH says:

      09:21am | 29/06/12

      How do we get them there?  Would Indonesia allow planes to land?  Or let them get off an Australian vessel in their ports?  People with no documentation? They destroy it to avoid this very scenario, aside from hiding their identities and inventing a sob story for themselves that can’t be verified, or even take a real persons sob story, or just hide their real nationality (like those Pakistanis who claimed to be from somewhere else to claim asylum).  Without documentation, they can’t be returned anywhere.

      Its like ‘turning the boats back’ - how?  Floating cattle dogs?  A giant net?  Tow ropes?  They just punch a hole in the bottom of the boat, it sinks and voila - under international maritime law any nearby vessels have to save them - presumably the boat towing them or pushing them back - and they get a comfier boat ride to Christmas Island.

      These things won’t work, for obvious reasons.

    • Max Power says:

      10:11am | 29/06/12

      Anyone arriving by boat is sent back to the country they claim they are from. Fingerprints, DNA and Photograph stored on database with the caveat, never to be allowed in Australia.
      If they don’t wish to return to their country of origin, give them the option of being delivered to the refugee camp closest to their country of origin.

      We should amend our laws to state that anyone arriving by boat will not be considered as a refugee and any claim will be automatically rejected. As far as I am concerned any UN laws/conventions are guiding principles that are overrided by our laws. 
      The mesage should be, anyone arriving by boat will never set foot in Australia.

    • off centre says:

      12:04pm | 29/06/12

      We have a reputation for having the soft touch. Australia needs to toughen up! Our generosity has been exploited for too long. It’s too bad our bleeding heart politicians don’t want to do the tough work

    • Karen from Qld says:

      12:48pm | 29/06/12

      They should be taken back to the nearest UN Refugee Camp if they can’t be returned to their home country. Let the UN find answers to the solution. After all their outdated treaty has caused the problem.

    • Admiral Ackbar says:

      01:44pm | 29/06/12

      Basically, we should grow a pair. I agree.

      But right now there are too many gutless people in charge who are content with being taken for a ride, and the country shoppers have us right where they want us; bent over with our pants around our ankles. To think otherwise is naive and childish.

    • Dieter Moeckel says:

      09:05am | 29/06/12

      Why should indonesia detain perfectly legal arrivals in their country? Indonesia is a transit country which detains its own illegals see the immigration detention centre in Bali.
      The boat people are an Australian problem. The boat people do not want to stay in Indonesia, they want to come to Australia.
      As to them being filthy rich - give us some evidence - What wealth have Australian authorities found on refugees? Are they laden with Australian currency, gold, silver bullion, masses of precious stones and jewellery? A bit of evidence would help. Where do they keep their wealth - in body cavities?
      It is so easy to heap shit on the problem. Less than 5% of refugees arrive by boat yet they represent 90% of refugees in detention. The majority of so called boat people are recognised as legitimate asylum seekers. Australia receives less than 1% (0.6%) of world asylum seekers. There are at any one time more than 50 000 illegal immigrants in Australia nearly all of them arrive by ‘plane. Most of them are processed and found to be illegitimate asylum seekers. People who arrive by boat intend to report to Australian authorities on Christmas Island and are therefor not illegal. People arriving by ‘plane who overstay their visas are illegal. What is is hard about this?
      I support whole heartedly the Greens and Wilkey that that the only humane, honest and fair policy is to process asylum seekers, seeking asylum in Australia, in Australia not in a third country that has nothing to do with them.
      This whole issue has become a farce. Australian politics and xenophobic (fanned into ignition by the Howard government) at it’s worst

      Reply

    • marley says:

      09:36am | 29/06/12

      Why should Indonesia detain perfectly legal arrivals?  Well, first, if they arrive with false documents, they’re not “perfectly legal” - they’re manifestly illegal.  If they arrive without visas, and aren’t from one of the visa exempt countries, they’re illegal.  If they got their visas on the basis of fake documents, they’re illegal.  If Indonesia knows it’s admitting improperly documented people, and is simply turning a blind eye to their transitting the country to get to Australia, it deserves to be sanctioned.

      As for less than 5% of asylum seekers arriving by boat, not so at all.  Do not try to confuse the issue by comparing overstayers with asylum seekers - they’re two different beasts.  Compare air arrivals who make asylum claims with boat arrivals who make asylum claims - and you’ll find the numbers are 50/50 these days, not 95/5.

      Whether this is a xenophobic farce, or whether it’s a genuine attempt to reduce the impetus to get on a boat and risk drowning, is a question-mark.  But it’s a question mark that is not unique to Australia, as worldwide countries struggle to stem irregular migration flows by any means possible.

    • Anon says:

      10:42am | 29/06/12

      @ Dieter Moeckel - Some of these Asylum seekers do have great wealth. Being an ex member of a Patrol Boat crew and boarding countless SIEV’s I can tell you I have personally counted large amounts of currency being carried by so called Asylum seekers. I still have a detailed Itinerary of approximately 30 people in which I counted over$100,000US between them. Oh and not only that the majority of them were wearing gold jewellery and expensive watches and rings laden with Jewels like rubies. Oh and don’t forget they have to pay the people smugglers anywhere from $8000US up to $60000 for one case of a family of 3 that I came across. Is that enough evidence. First Hand knowledge.

      Oh and protecting Australia’s boarders is not a rasism issue so stop peddling the same line over and over. That is all you lefties have is name calling.

    • Why is it so? says:

      09:17am | 29/06/12

      I’m looking at this point ... “Stopping people at the airport barrier is not difficult. Just ask an Australian tourist who arrives in Jakarta without proof of a return ticket and at least six months on their passport.”

      Then I think ... there must be some involvement by Indonesian government agencies if people are being allowed entry without correct documents and a return ticket.

      Looked at Indonesian entry requirements (gee, so much pertinent info on the net!).  The link is below ... but will summarise. There’s a list of nationalities that can get in without a visa or can get one on arrival.  The countries from where our refugees arrive do not figure on this list.  And for these countries, the following is stated ...

      Residents of countries not on the above list (or for those wishing to stay up to 60 days in the country) must apply in advance for a tourist visa by applying to your domestic Indonesia embassy. For this you will need to send off (along with forms, photos and 35GBP or local equivalent) a letter from your employer or education establishment stating that you intend to return, and proof of 1000GBP in available funds. Visas are single entry and are not extendable.

      Doesn’t really help ... just proves (to me at least) that the blind eye is being applied.  Maybe a few of our government grant dollars can go to help Indonesian embassies and immigration officials recognise these countries of origin.

      http://www.into-asia.com/indonesia/faq/visas.php

      Reply

    • Anon says:

      09:24am | 29/06/12

      I raised these points about Indonesia in an article yesterday. And if you look directly at the DFAT website Australia commited $558 million in foreign aid to Indonesia this last financial year. It’s time to man up Australia and stop sending the foreign aid to Indonesia. Watch the boats stop then.

      Indonesia is full of corruption. In April this year 2 Indonesian police officers were arrested in relation to people smuggling of asylum seekers from Africa to Australia. The only way to stop the boats is to pressure Indonesia to do their part.

      Reply

    • SD says:

      10:05am | 29/06/12

      Care to provide a link? I might believe you then!

    • Kika says:

      10:47am | 29/06/12

      Ah hate to burst your bubble - but the aid isn’t to help Indonesia - it’s to help ourselves not get bombed in Bali! You can thank Mr Howard for the Indonesian aid programme.

    • Anon says:

      10:58am | 29/06/12

      @Kika who cares who set it up. If you take that amount of money from Indonesia and say your not getting it until you help us deal with the issue watch them come to the party quick smart.

    • Kika says:

      11:32am | 29/06/12

      @Anon - Really? You think they care? And so we will allow Jemaah Islamiya to step in during the meantime and teach the kids that Aussies are evil - see, look they took the funding out of your school. Yeah GREAT idea!

    • SD says:

      11:45am | 29/06/12

      Link doesnt work but I left off the end part and got a page that said something about a 5.4 billion ” investment relationship”. That’s not definitively “aid”. Some of it could be booners buying businesses in Bali. But I guess most of it ain’t coming back. Give Em $50 next year

    • SD says:

      11:57am | 29/06/12

      These are just trade numbers not aid. Although most is probably Govt spending. Need to look up ausaid, which I’m doing now

    • Anon says:

      12:35pm | 29/06/12

      @Kika Jemaah Islamiya are already preaching that to the kids in Indonesia. They are an Islamic Extremist group that preach hate of everything in the West. What is taking away aid going to change to them. By throwing money at a group like that is not going to change anything. they will just use the money to kill more people. Look at the problems in Africa where Aid is being thrown into unstable countries only to be used by extremist groups.

    • Marco says:

      09:31am | 29/06/12

      People arriving by plane at least have some form of paperwork and passport, documenting their name and address, country of origin and searchable criminal history and/or terrorism links. Most people arriving by boats have destroyed all paperwork, so they deliberately can’t be returned safely to their country of residence.

      Just because an illegal immigrant wants to “come to Australia” does not make their plight my problem, nor their relocation and settlement (and accommodation, and legal support, and transfers, and meals, and health and dental care, and internet/phone access, and living allowances, etc etc etc) my expense. What welcome do you think you would have on the shores of many other countries?

      Reply

    • Christina says:

      12:00am | 30/06/12

      Well said, Marco.
      We most certainly wouldn’t be given the same support that Australia gives to the illegal immigrants from these countries !.

    • chuck says:

      09:36am | 29/06/12

      Yes Dieter you may have overlooked the obvious as 5% are well represented in detention camps (your figures) - that’s because they have done something ILLEGAL. have a squizz at the entry requirements for OZ for example.
      The fact that they can jump on a plane and transit countries willy nilly is PROOF enough that they have a standard of living sufficient to pay for this!
      You then contradict yourself by disclosing that the majority of boat people are recognised as asylum seekers. Really? Looks like it is easier to do that than do your job. Maybe there loss of relevant papers or fake documentation is acceptable eg Cap’t Emad family.
      People who overstay their LEGALLY issued visas having arrived by plane are in breach and are I imagine repatriated when caught or decide to go back.
      How can YOU speak for people going to Christmas island unless of course you have intimate knowledge of their intentions. I gather Christmas Is. is now the preferred port of call because of the preferential treatment they now receive and is less hazardous than the Ashmore reef journey where they might actually get lost!
      Indonesia and Malaysia are complicit in all of this and yet we still continue to support them financially. They do have their own agendas about Australia in Asia!
      Yes Dieter it is a farce and increases to be so because of the wet handed approach and people like the Greens and Wilkey and a government devoid of leadership.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      09:14am | 30/06/12

      Karen from Queensland
      In my previous comment it should have read “these three are costing Queenlanders $8,300 a day in salaries.
      I apologise for the typo error Karen, but then I guess I am only as human as most people( and not as perfect as the LNP crowd think they are)

    • Karen from Qld says:

      09:42am | 29/06/12

      Take the sugar off the table. 44 more turned up last night. What’s that I see? Why it’s Wayne Swan’s surplus flying out the window.

      Reply

    • Deborah says:

      10:49am | 29/06/12

      No it will be our Health, Education et al that will fly out the window.  All for the sake of feeling warm and fuzzy and we shall pay for it. Refugee Tax anyone?
      I personally would like to see all Foreign Aid cut to Indonesia until they can get their act together. 
      It was noted that 656 so far have arrived this week so multiply that by $10,000 and the only people that are benfiting are the corrupt criminals.
      In the end we pay and pay dearly as most of them will still be collecting Welfare in 5 years time, not to mention what the Family Reunion will cost us.

    • Christian Real says:

      07:16am | 30/06/12

      Karen from Queensland
      The 20,000 public servants that Campbell Newman just sacked can’t even afford the sugar now to take off the table.
      Oh that’s right,Newman took the sugar,coffee,tea and milk out of public servants lunchrooms as well, and he also took the potplants and told them to bring their own.
      But I suppose that Newman has got to find $3,300 a day to pay Peter Costello, and then both Costello’s Deputy commissions, Sandra Harding and Doug McTaggart both get $2,500 each, a day as well .
      These jobs for the Liberal boys and girls sure pays well, and just these three are costing Queenslanders $8,300 a week in salaries.
      Maybe Karen, the boat people will all end up in Queendsland, as they are use to living in third World Countries,and Queensland is fast becoming a third World State under Campbell Newman and he’s only been Premier for around three months.

    • jimbo says:

      10:12am | 29/06/12

      Another talkfest in Parliament with tears and fingerpointing and still nothing will be done.  Form a committee and lay the blame on them?  Go on leave and perhaps the problem will go away? Have an electio? All of the above?  Someone, please govern this bloody country!

      Reply

    • Dazeddazza says:

      11:32am | 29/06/12

      Sure, these people drowning is not a good thing, it is a tragedy, but for me even more of a tragedy was watching “mature” politicians whimpering and crying.  These people are our representatives, they must have dignity and be strong.  They are human, and have emotions, but this politically motivated blubbering is not a good look.  A decent speaker can express emotion and feelings without resorting to shameless tears.

    • youdy beaudy says:

      10:31am | 29/06/12

      If any person or peoples are running for their lives and seeking refuge in Australia then providing their documentation is legal then all they have to do is seek refuge at the Australian Embassies or High Commission anywhere in the world where we have those facilities. I’m sure then that we will have to process their claims and give them our protection.

      Julian Assange did the same by seeking protection at the Bolivian Embassy and was granted protection. Chinese seeking the same enter and seek protection here and are granted that protection.

      With the seeking of protection there that would save them getting on boats and it would be a legitimate way. The bringing of Jewels and money with them is the universal way as Gold and Diamonds are the international currency as money may fail in some circumstances. We see the rising gold prices and wonder. But the Gold prices follow along with amount of fear rising in countries around the world diamonds also. They are the real international currency that backs up the money. In times of insecurity people buy gold and jewels.

      I know directly that even poor Indonesians buy gold rings and wear them and the reason is that one day when their children have to go to UNI or other schools then they can sell the rings to pay the fees. Yes, they have to pay fees there too. So, their wealth is worn on the body, no different to us, we also wear gold and diamonds as well and sell them when money is needed. Ask a pawnbroker who his customers are. So, there is a legitimate reason for doing so. The boat people have to walk away from their homes, lands, culture just to escape tryanny. Everyone needs money wherever they come from.

      If you seek asylum, just go to the Embassy and have your claims processed and those claims will be legal. The bad guys will be found out if they go and maybe the people smuggling scam can stop for good. Hope so.!

      Reply

    • Kika says:

      10:56am | 29/06/12

      Well. Can I give you a personal example of what happens when one goes to a wonderful peaceful welcoming safe haven otherwise known as an Australian foreign embassy?

      “Hmm so I see you want an Australian visa”
      “No, no… I want to undertake study in Australia”
      “Don’t lie to us. Tell us the truth. You want a bl00dy visa don’t you”
      “No, no.. I have the funds to study”
      “But you just want a passport, don’t you. Sorry.”

      So they go and apply to Norway for a student visa, get it and have lived there as a law abiding, highly educated,  tax paying citizen ever since.

      True story. And that’s only trying to get a student visa in one of these countries where a chunk of our current asylum seekers are coming from.

    • marley says:

      12:00pm | 29/06/12

      @Kika - so what you’re saying is, the Australian immigration officer was right, the student wanted to stay permanently, and that’s what he’s done in Norway. 

      Now, if the student had walked into the Embassy and made a refugee claim, perhaps he might have been accepted.  But he didn’t.  And he was rightfully turned down because the officer felt he wasn’t a genuine student but an intending immigrant.

    • Kika says:

      05:03pm | 29/06/12

      No he was a student. He studied medicine and psychology and is now a Psychologist. He was there for so long he applied for citizenship and received it - all fair and square. Australia didn’t want to give him a chance and rejected his student application. And we’re talking @ peak height of the conflict too - 1983.

      By all accounts you are a migrant too, Marley. But because your Canadian does this make your application for residency more valid than those from other browner countries?

    • marley says:

      09:35am | 30/06/12

      @Kika - the point is, the Australian officer clearly thought your friend’s intention was to stay in Australia and not return home.  He was right.  That Norway didn’t care or has different rules doesn’t make the Australian decision wrong.

      And no, being a Canadian doesn’t make my visa any more valid than someone from browner countries.  If an Indian or a Chinese comes here with the intention to visit and return home, and does so, his visa is as valid as anyone else’s.  If a Canadian or an American comes here with plans to stay, but tells Immigration he’s only going to visit, then his visa is as invalid as any other person lying about his intent.  It has nothing to do with the colour of ones’ skin, but everything to do with whether the person is telling the truth.

    • Nyani says:

      10:34am | 29/06/12

      Crocodile tears of adult politicians has to get an academy award!
      Sinking boats are the only deterrent in an otherwise open invitation to come live in Australia the welfare country of the planet, no labour required the hard working infidel dogs will provide your every need.

      Reply

    • MarkS says:

      10:35am | 29/06/12

      Indonesia does nothing because it is not their problem, it is our problem. If we want to stop it then we must take the sugar off the table. Not ask our neighbours to do what we have not got the guts to do ourselves.

      Reply

    • Kika says:

      10:46am | 29/06/12

      This country has got such a psychological problem. I cannot for the life of me work out why so many of you are so anti-asylum seeker. Yes, the ones who turn out to be bogus should go home. No doubt. There’s no argument in that. But those who turn out to be genuine… what’s the matter with that?

      Geez people.

      Don’t worry. I’ve talked about it with my husband. We’re going to apply for our relatives in Sri Lanka (everyone in Jaffna) for Visas under the reunited family visa. I could do with a few babysitters soon. 

      :-p

      Reply

    • M2 says:

      11:27am | 29/06/12

      Skilled migrants?  Make application, and come on over.
      Illegal queue jumpers, convicted criminals, terrorists and welfare leeches?  Stay where you are.
      That should clear up your confusion.

    • Max Power says:

      12:31pm | 29/06/12

      They are not anti-asylum seeker, they anti-boat people, there is a huge difference. One lot a fleeing danger and the boat boat people are immigrants trying to to get here via the backdoor with a taxpayer funded life.

    • Karen from Qld says:

      11:21am | 29/06/12

      Unless they are going to jump on a leaky boat it will be some years before they get to come here. Their places are being taken by all these irregular maritime arrivals.

      Reply

    • Robinoz says:

      11:57am | 29/06/12

      The answer to your question ” ... why do Indonesian authorities refuse to stop the flow?” is simple. They don’t want them. Despite the fact that most are fellow muslims, Indonesia has enough people and doesn’t want hundreds of thousands more Middle Eastern and Pakistani refugees. In fact, nobody wants them. While our young men die in Afghanistan, young Afghani men are pouring into Australia rather than do their own dirty work. Then if allowed to settle, they bring in their families under the families reunion program. As a nation, we are stupid and people a bit smarter than us take advantage of our stupidity.

      Reply

    • ALAN says:

      12:02pm | 29/06/12

      yes they do arrive in indonesia from MOSTLY middle east countries on a 1 way TKT THE INDONESIAN IMMIGRATION TURN A BLIND EYE,THEY THEN SELL ALL THEIR JEWELLERY ETC OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS THERE DEPOSIT MUCH MONEY,PAY CASH <UP TO $30,000> TO THE SMUGGLERS,GET ON THE BOAT THROW THERE PASSPORT AWAY,AND WAIT FOR THE AUSSIE NAVY TO PICK THEM UP,<IF ITS AN INDONESIAN NAVY BOAT THAT TURNS UP>,THEY WAVE THEM ON,THEY WOULD RATHER DIE THAN GET ON AN INDONESIAN BOAT.THE SO CALLED 90% ASSYLUM SEEKERS ARE,LIARS AND CHEATS,THEY END UP IN AUSTRALIA AFTER THE WOOL IS PULLED OVER THE EYES OF OUR STUPID IMMIGRATION DEPT..WITHIN 2 YEARS THEY SEND FOR THEIR MONEY IN INDONESIAN BANKS AND HAVE A NEW HOUSE ,A NEW CAR AND EVERTHING AUSSIES HAVE NOT GOT,AND THEY STILL LIVE ON CENTERLINK.WHY DONT SOME ONE GO TO INDONESIA AND FIND OUT ALL THEIR CONS ETC AND PUBLISH IT ALL.
      REGARDING THAT STUPID GREENS M.P. CRYING IN PARLIMENT YESTERDAY,WHAT ALOT OF REAL ACTING,WHEN SOME OF OUR SOLDIERS COME HOME WOUNDED OR DEAD FROM AFGANISTAN AND OUR POOR ABORIGNALS WAY OF LIFE.WHY IS THIS GREENS M.P. NOT CRYING FOR THEM.A COMPLETE NO HOPING WOMAN M.P.ACTING LIKE CHILD.THERE SEEMS NOW, ONLY 1 WAY TO STOP THESE SO CALLED ASSYLUM SEEKERS AND THEIR BOATS HAVE OUR ELECTION NOW,WHEN LABOR WILL BE RUN OUT OF OFFICE FOR MANY MANY YEARS ,I HOPE.

      Reply

    • Mouse says:

      04:07pm | 29/06/12

      Alan, you don’t have to shout!!  :o)

    • off centre says:

      12:18pm | 29/06/12

      All I can see from this is selfishness. Politicians don’t want to lose their jobs, people smugglers want the money, country shoppers want welfare payments and to jump the queue ahead of all the genuine refugees waiting their turn and Indonesia doesn’t want to deal with it.

      And the Australian taxpayer? I don’t see why my taxes should pay for bludger’s/boat people’s plasma TVs, or be sent to Indonesia who doesn’t give a toss. I used to think Australia valued a fair go and helping each other out, but with every player taking my tax money for a ride, my generosity is wearing thin. So I will be minimising my tax now in my own selfish plight to get ahead. And I suggest every other taxpayer does the same!! Now, who knows a good accountant?

      Reply

    • Big Jay says:

      12:31pm | 29/06/12

      @off centre - Further to your other comments. I’m not sure why we give aid to Indonesia either, when we seem to get little cooperation or respect from them (people smuggling/the bali nine/tsunami recovery/terrorism).

      Indonesia has more billionaires than Australia. If they take such a dim view on wealth re-distribution why accept wealth transfers from overseas?...I think we all know the answer to that.

    • Leigh says:

      12:33pm | 29/06/12

      The job for Australia is not to stop people from “risking their lives at sea”; it is to prevent people from coming here illegally.

      “What is Indonesia doing about it”?

      There is no reason why Indonesia should do anything about it. People arrive there documented, and why should the arrivals speak Indonesian? Anyone of us who does not speak Indonesian can enter Indonesia with the proper documentation. People entering Australia legally don’t have to speak English.

      Silly Australia allows people to come in illegally, without documents. These people probably don’t speak English either; they will probably never work, will they bother about learning English because of enclaves all their kind already allowed to stay here permanently. And, yes, it is costing us billions.

      So, of course, let’s blame the Indonesians!

      The fault lies with the Gillard Government, the Abbott Opposition and the Greens.

      Reply

    • RonaldR says:

      01:45pm | 29/06/12

      We give a lot of aid to Indonesia we should work out a more beneficial way for both countries, Instead of Billions we are spending and not stopping the Problem is relocate the Christmas Island facility to Indonesia along with a very large refuge   internment camp. And reward the Indonesian Government for arresting the People smugglers and Indonesian officials taking Bribes from them and the ones involved with the boats that sink and loose life be treated same as drug smugglers.  An no more plane rides put some dongers on our live sheep boats as then we can give them a ride home as most of them are not genuine refugees   and without documentation no processing on the first boat back to where they came from

      Reply

    • RonaldR says:

      01:45pm | 29/06/12

      We give a lot of aid to Indonesia we should work out a more beneficial way for both countries, Instead of Billions we are spending and not stopping the Problem is relocate the Christmas Island facility to Indonesia along with a very large refuge   internment camp. And reward the Indonesian Government for arresting the People smugglers and Indonesian officials taking Bribes from them and the ones involved with the boats that sink and loose life be treated same as drug smugglers.  An no more plane rides put some dongers on our live sheep boats as then we can give them a ride home as most of them are not genuine refugees   and without documentation no processing on the first boat back to where they came from

      Reply

    • David T says:

      01:54pm | 29/06/12

      Indonesia is a wealthy country. The problem is that 95% of the wealth is owned by 5% of the population - and they are going to make sure it stays that way.
      Corruption is a way of life there. Contrary to some opinions here the arrival of people on a one way ticket is their problem. Many countries (if not most) demand evidence that you have a return ticket and enough money to support you for a limited stay - length of time decided by the country in question, not you.
      You need documents to get on a plane anywhere in the world. If you get on using false documents then you must either seek asylum in the country you land in or return to your point of departure.  False documents don’t get taken by people smugglers until after arrival in Indonesia. People with genuine documents will do everything can to hold on to them.
      There is a lot of rubbish being talked about false documents and who has them and who destroys documents.
      You can be rich and still be a refugee but if you are a genuinely a refugee than you are much more likely to arrive by plane and seek asylum in an open manner. What is more the intelligent services will normally know about you.

      Reply

    • Cobbler says:

      02:30pm | 29/06/12

      I know ‘The Punch’ is an opinion piece website but come on!  This is just blatant hyperbole dressed up as journalism.  How much do contributers get paid?  It’s time to jump on the gravy train I think.

      At least a link or 2 to support any of it would have been nice…............

      Reply

    • spell checks before posting to the Punch says:

      03:00pm | 29/06/12

      Indonesia is not a wealthy country. In a 2010 IMF list, it ranked 61st out of 182 nations (The Poorest Countries in the World). With a GDP purchasing power parity of about $3,980 it is well below Australia ($38,356).

      Arriving by plane into Australia is not an option for most of these people because they need to apply for a visa (tourist or otherwise) before they can utilise their airline ticket. The Australian embassy in Iran is very strict on it’s criteria for issuing these visas, therefore most people realise they will never legally get a visa to enter Australia so they arrive via boat. If we relax the criteria and ignore risk matrices used to issue visas to Iranians etc, then just watch the refugee numbers multiply at airports rather than Christmas Island.

      Almost all the people arriving by boats have copies of their legal documents, stored on USB’s, or held back in their home country ready to be sent when required. Not all, but most. As you correctly state, people with genuine documents will do almost anything to hold onto them.

      The reason these people hop from Malaysia and Indonesia rather than declare asylum is obvious – Australia is a more attractive destination, but there are other reasons. Neither Malaysia or Indonesia are signatories to the UN convention on Refugees, meaning they do not have to accept or investigate the claims, in fact they can deport the arrivals same day if they wanted to. No one in their right mind therefore would try and claim asylum at Jakarta airport.

      And finally, no the intelligence services will not normally know about possible refugee arrivals by plane. ASIS and ASIO cannot possibly have files on every individual in Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Myanmar who wishes to claim asylum in Australia. They need to make their investigations after the person’s arrival and subsequent claim.

      Reply

    • LostinPerth says:

      03:45pm | 29/06/12

      Easy fix.

      There are camps full of genuine refugees in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri lanka. Get their details. Anyone arriving by boat will only get refugee status after all the people in the camps who have registered their details and who wish to come to Australia and are doing so legitimately have been processed. - No more queue jumping.

      Anyone arriving without legitimate papers doesn’t go onto the queue until their identification is proved.

      Bring back the Temporary Visas. You are on good behaviour for say 3 years, no family reunions in that time. If you are found to have lied or provided false documents during the approval process your Visa is cancelled and you either get deported or sent back to the end of the queue to be re-processed.

      Those who come from Indonesia either get sent back to Indonesia or their home country if not found to be refugees.

      Result - those in need who are genuine refugees and are doing the right thing get processed quicker and are allowed to come here. Those who try to jump the queue or arrive illegally get sent back to wait.

      Reply

    • Time for action says:

      04:06pm | 29/06/12

      Because the Indonesioan gov are making money out of it….they get their cut from the boat people and they spend less on refugees staying in Indonesia.
      Off shore…On shore…it’s all irrelevant.The boat people will still come….why…because its a lucrative business.How do you stop this business?
      You stop foreign aid to Indonesia,you invest more in the processing of refugees in Indonesia..you deport all boat people.
      If you have the money to country shop…you’re not a refugee.Money is being wasted on these people.Money that could be better spent on…say ..refugees from the Congo.People who are being sexually mutilated…body parts being dismembered….over 5 million people have been killed in just over 10 yrs.
      We should also take more refugees…20 thousand?...ridiculous…try 200,000 and that wouldn’t even make a dent on the problem.
      No?
      Then just ter up the convention and its business as usual.

      Reply

    • Robinos says:

      05:48pm | 29/06/12

      When people escape from so-called persecution and seek refuge in Indonesia, they are usually of a shared religion and therefore the persecution stops. Why is it that as they have found a safe haven in Indonesia they then have to move to Australia as refugees. They are NOT refugees. They are parasites wanting to suck our system dry and our government is stupid enough to allow it.

      Reply

    • the moor says:

      05:51pm | 29/06/12

      Knowing what the problem is and being able to do anything about it are two different things.  If things pan out as the Liberals expect they will discover that when they take government at the end of next year. Pity the poor sod who gets given the poison chalice (more than likely it won’t be one of Mr Abbott’s allies) because the whole proposition that his stated policies will stop the boats is laughable.

      Reply

    • chuck says:

      05:55pm | 29/06/12

      We could take 20 million and it would still make not 1 iota of difference except that everyone here would then be reduced to the same level of poverty. Funny about that.

      Reply

    • The Razor says:

      07:17pm | 29/06/12

      The UN stated some 12 months ago that civil unrest around the world had subsided to the point that there should not be any real reason that we should be receiving increased numbers of refugees. The most amazing thing is that our illustrious well paid and fully perked politicians have nicked of on their holidays, leaving Australia open with boats still coming. This idiotic delusional Labor government, wants a solution to the problem they created. They could start by reintroducing Howard’s policy, and not advertising how great our benefits are, and how weak our laws are ! Gee that was really hard. So what will they do if large numbers arrive at the same time and keep coming ?...... I bet no pollies are holidaying at Christmas Island, and how many Greens senators have illegals as borders ? .... Sarah Hanson-Young.

      Reply

    • renold says:

      07:39pm | 29/06/12

      Australia should have backed the Dutch in the late 40’s, you wouldnt have a problem with Indonesia now

      Reply

    • Donovon says:

      08:06pm | 29/06/12

      This is pure failure on Gillard’s part, no one can be more useless!!!

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      08:19pm | 29/06/12

      Why are Pakistanis on the boats ?
      What war are they fleeing ?

      In 2 weeks the Indonesian Prime Minister will visit here and hold talk with our PM.
      He should be told to bring his wallet and contribute to the cost of saving the boatpeople (as the occupants are not refugees), and if he resists, then the occupants of the boats should have their jewels and bank accounts confiscated. They should, like a certain Mr. Bullimore some years ago, be made embarrassed to receive our good nature and risk our own lives to save a people who come here on false pretences.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      07:31am | 30/06/12

      The only way to stop the people smugglers and the ‘refugees” (boat people) is for Indonesia to take more responsibility and address this ongoing issue instead of officials turning a blind eye and allowing it to happen.
      It is becoming quite obvious that these boats are leaving from Indonesia to travel here, and the Indonesian Government and officials need to stop the boats from departing their shores with their human cargo’s.
      There is no way that the people smuggler’s points of departure can be hidden from the view or observation of the Indonesian Government and officials, because these boats are carrying large numbers of people and are overcrowded,there is simply no way that they would go un- noticed or undetected by the Government and officials in Indonesia.

      Reply

    • Mouse says:

      10:30am | 30/06/12

      That will never happen ChristianReal, because the Indonesians don’t want them either!  When they get to Indonesia they are not asylum seekers, they have ID, so as far as Indonesia are concerned they are just tourists. Tourists can come and go as they please. They only become asylum seekers when the boats are headed for Australia and they ring AFP for help, so why would the Indonesian government bother with them?  o)

    • Daz says:

      09:48am | 30/06/12

      Names and addresses please of all those who think it is perfectly fine for these wealthy, assisted passage queue jumpers to flout our border protection laws and take advantage of our generosity and compassion.

      Then I’m going to go down to all the homeless shelters here and tell them all you don’t mind if they jump your back fence and set up a tent in your back yard. Then I’m going to publish your addresses in all the aboriginal newspapers with the message that you are willing to open up your homes and your hearts to the thousands and thousands of aboriginal people living in sub-human, third world conditions in this country. 

      That should give you something to do and solve in your own backyard.

      Reply

    • alan says:

      12:33pm | 30/06/12

      att: DAZ
      great reply to all the mail that has gone into this debade,but your answer is easy,they are COWARDS to put their name.they are what we all call .“the do gooders” have not got the GUTS to put there names.

      Reply
 
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