Boat people - a "passing irritant" apparently

[i-need-a-martini]

Pre election Abbott considered this his number on priority. Day after day, the Labor government was pummelled on all sides about the issue. Those seeking asylum were demonised and the Australian people were made to feel unsafe in their own country because of  "illegals" that had to be stopped. Abbott had not just one but 3 different 'policies' in place to deal with the catastrophe that was occuring in this country.

But now that he is in charge, the issue is only a "passing irritant".

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-says-boats-issue-with-indonesia-a-...

[bsal6160]

You need to get your head around the difference between an illegal immigrant and a genuine refugee before making assumptions.

[just_me_karen]

A month ago it was an emergency. Now it's merely an irritant...even though more boats have arrived during the first few weeks of Tony's shift, than in the last few weeks of Kevin's shift.

[izabsmiling]

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@bsal6160 wrote:

You need to get your head around the difference between an illegal immigrant and a genuine refugee before making assumptions.

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how do you explain it ?

If  it isn't illegal to seek asylum

and even if people are found NOT to be and/or can't prove that they are 'genuine refugees' and are sent back to where they came from 'without criminal charges' as it is not illegal to Seek Asylum ...where is the illegal relevant in that ?

did the number of asylum seeker arrivals published on billboards include all 'Asylum seekers' who arrived by boat as they are by Law able to do ? 

[izabsmiling]

I wouldn't accept being considered/referred to as a criminal/law breaker for abiding by the Law 

[lakeland27]

ms bishop is possibly the worst foreign minister in memory.  St Peters 0. Unley high 1.

[azureline**]

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@lakeland27 wrote:

ms bishop is possibly the worst foreign minister in memory.  St Peters 0. Unley high 1.

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not giving her much time to prove herself?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@bsal6160 wrote:

You need to get your head around the difference between an illegal immigrant and a genuine refugee before making assumptions.

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You need to get your head around the fact that it isn't illegal to enter a country by any means and claim refugee status. They only become illegal if their refugee application is refused. Which is almost never.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@lakeland27 wrote:

ms bishop is possibly the worst foreign minister in memory.  St Peters 0. Unley high 1.

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not giving her much time to prove herself?

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Perhaps.

But what an extraordinary situation - she comes back from a diplomatic trip and tells everyone how well it all went. Which clearly alarmed the Indonesians enough that they take the unusual step of releasing a transcript of meeting in order for people to understand the truth of the meeting.

[lakeland27]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@lakeland27 wrote:

ms bishop is possibly the worst foreign minister in memory.  St Peters 0. Unley high 1.

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not giving her much time to prove herself?

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 she appears to have got them offside from the word go, thats a pretty large fail considering the policy that hinges on getting it right was supposed to the most important ?