Yes, it was handled much better by Howard, wasn't it? Lets see, how many people lost their lives when their boat sank because Howard refused to lend a hand?
It also means accepting the evidence put before you and conceding when you cannot refute that evidence.
So it was okay that Howard did nothing when a boat full of asylum seekers sank in OUR waters and they did nothing about it?
Another academic who spends all his time criticising Governments that are trying to protect the integrity of Australia's borders. And when have we heard Amnesty Int'l criticising NON Western nations for human rights abuse and violations, when it spends so much of its time being critical of the West. Maybe it could start with a well known 'gentleman' in a place calle Zimbabwe! And we all know who the most bigoted poster is on this forum.The same person who has to continually utilise abusive, gutter language to bolster his vacuous arguments.
What on earth did that have to do with the Howard Government? If people are so stupid as to take such risks, and try to smash through our borders to suck of our generous Welfare Egg, that's their problem. According to some posters here, if the sky falls through tomorrow, that would also be Howard's fault,Thank goodness he was in charge during: - the 9/11 bombing in NY; - the Port Arthur massacre after which he brought in the Gun Buyback scheme, inspite of vigorous opposition from members of his own constituency, which he had the courage to confront; - the Ansett debacle, just after his return from NY, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when he had to confront a mob of over paid ,under worked, closeted Ansett employees (no,I wont call them 'workers') - the East Timor Intervention; - the SE Asian Economic Crisis.etc. etc. This pack of galahs we have running Australia at the moment ran in fright the moment they had one crisis to confront!.
What does the Australian Labor Party do with 13,000 uneducated refugees every year - just put them on welfare forever at the Australian tax payers expense. Very progressive and intelligent management. 60 % of refugees are still on welfare after being in Australia for 5 years is not good, and if you think it is, than you are a a fool.
Finally understand its people with extremely low IQ's that vote for the ALP & Greens. These Middle Eastern country shoppers from Indonesia illegally hire criminal people smugglers to illegally smuggle them into Australia, but some idiots on here now trying to tell me the people who hired these smugglers have committed no crime. LOL LOL These criminals have done everything to get to Australia and onto the easy Australian welfare system. That's why 60% of refugees are still on welfare after being here for 5 years. They are coming here for a free hand-outs, and have no intentions of giving anything back to Australia or the Australian people who support their bludging behaviour. Does Australia really need any more uneducated tool booth operators, trolly collector or shopping centre cleaners, or does Australia need more educated and qualified professional people? The home countries where these people come form couldn't care less if they leave or not. In fact, the are pleased to get rid of these uneducated individuals because they don't have to spend their financial resources on education or medical caring for them, so they are deliberately passing the buck onto other countries like Australia to care for their uneducated backward people. There is no war in Iraq, and all Iraqi people claiming asylum should be send back to Iraq, and the same with the rest of these people claiming asylum. Its got nothing to do with asylum, they are simply country shopping and coming here for a better life - and under that term they should be classified as financial refugees.
Hey Mak In a way i agree. But its funny how we were in Iraq and still in Afganistan promoting democracy and a free society in both those countries but we are not willing to accept its refugees from the war? Is that two faced (our politicians) i wonder!
Employing the services of people smugglers does not disqualify one from seeking asylum in Australia. Fact.
the goon news is that our next PM has said that we should use the navy to turn the boats around... ABOUT BLOODY TIME someone spoke up about this.
If these country shoppers stop over in Indonesia, and then head to Australia for a better financial life, then these people are NOT asylum seekers in the true sense of the word, they are opportunistic country shoppers.
Exactly. A lot of refugees are from countries that we have helped to destroy, yet we refuse to help these people? We have a moral duty to help them!
Why don't these country shoppers from the middle east call into the Australian embassies in all of the 7 countries they pass through, and ask for help? Why don't they ask for asylum at the Australian Embassy in Indonesia if they are genuine and serious refugees? I will await to read all your excuses
I am, what do you call the state of Iraq at the moment. Even though Sadam Hussein was a tyrrant and a dictator and many of his people suffered injustice. I wonder which the Iraqi people would choose today, the state the west has left them in or the state under a tyrrant?
You are in lala land.Embassies in these non UN signatory countries (i.e. countries which do not grant asylum) do not process refugee or asylum seeker applications. Massive fail.
I sincerely hope Abbott sticks to this policy into the next election, I really do. Although he will never be PM anyway, this has sunk him. Thank God, I was hoping he would show his true colours and he has conveniently done so. Gillard should be drinking champagne tonight.
If I was in their position I would do exactly the same thing (as would most people). Life is short; one should make the most of it and take every opportunity available. Why settle for second best?
You still haven`t answered the question, how many country shoppers would you like to encourage to try to sneak into Australia?
