How do you think that the boats should be stopped?

[*crikey*mate*]

politics aside and disregard any policies and/or treaties Australia has previously signed. Pretend there is a clean slate, a start over.

What do you think should be done with those who seek assylum and choose a boat as their method of transport?

If "we" become aware that their boats are in danger, do we help them?

Do we let anybody who wants to come, come?

What do we do with the assylum seekers once they do arrive/intercepted/are saved?

Do we just say "no"?

Do you even consider the "boat people" and people smugglers to be a problem for Australia?

is it something that even needs fixing? 

[azureline**]

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@my*mum wrote:

politics aside and disregard any policies and/or treaties Australia has previously signed. Pretend there is a clean slate, a start over.

What do you think should be done with those who seek assylum and choose a boat as their method of transport?

They should be assessed as to their situation and our laws re asylum.

If "we" become aware that their boats are in danger, do we help them?

Of course we do

Do we let anybody who wants to come, come?

No

What do we do with the assylum seekers once they do arrive/intercepted/are saved?

processed quickly.

Do we just say "no"?

No

Do you even consider the "boat people" and people smugglers to be a problem for Australia?

No

is it something that even needs fixing? 

Some things surrounding it need fixing.

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[cherry*135]

I don't think they can be stopped, reduced in number maybe. With all the troubles in the world.. wars, religious differences, famine, disease, natural disasters that makes people want to flee their own countries... the number of people fleeing is only going to increase in the future..especially from Asia and Africa.

Australia can't say ' No, doors are closed.. they have signed treaties and have obligations under those. I don't think you can reply adequately to your questions and disregard that.

[*crikey*mate*]

the questions were really just things to consider, they weren't meant to limit any responses.

Of course you can pretend the treaties, policies and relevant laws can be diregarded - think of it like a kind of Utopia - fresh start, we get to make the rules up all over again.

Policies, treaties and even laws can be revoked and repudiated.

I was just thinking, in an ideal world if there were no pre existing politics involved, what the solution would be or if in fact one is even required.

I was trying to word the OP carefully, because I didn't want to encourage a political "he said, they did' debate. There are just so many threads and discussions about what is being done/been done isn't working etc, yet there is not too much being said about what we would like to see happen and how that would be handled.

[newstart2380]

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@my*mum wrote:

politics aside and disregard any policies and/or treaties Australia has previously signed. Pretend there is a clean slate, a start over.

What do you think should be done with those who seek assylum and choose a boat as their method of transport?

If they are in Australian waters send the boat back if safe to do so.

If "we" become aware that their boats are in danger, do we help them?

Yes but still send the back if safe to do so, involve Indonesia of the boat and ask for assistance.

Do we let anybody who wants to come, come?

Absolutely NO

What do we do with the assylum seekers once they do arrive/intercepted/are saved?

Send them back if the boat is sea worthy enough after providing any medical provisions, food and water.

Do we just say "no"?

No, they are still human beings but must be made aware it is not a free passage as they have been told by the boat owners.

Do you even consider the "boat people" and people smugglers to be a problem for Australia?

Yes, we have our own poor, sick and disabled people who must take precedence over refugees.

is it something that even needs fixing? 

Yes, communication between Australia and Indonedia, Indonesia has a choice if they want aid they will have to cooperate in stopping the boats.

In addition - when someone flees a country due to war, famine etc the  very first country they enter is the country that they are supposed to seek asylum. Australia is very rarely the first country they enter. this was announced by Paul Murray on his Programme some weeks ago so they flee their own country and try to enter Australia after passing through other countries which is illegal.

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[poddster]

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@my*mum wrote:

politics aside and disregard any policies and/or treaties Australia has previously signed. Pretend there is a clean slate, a start over.

What do you think should be done with those who seek assylum and choose a boat as their method of transport?

All people who enter the country illegally, regardless of means of transport should be detained and then deported to whence they came

If "we" become aware that their boats are in danger, do we help them?

Yes, if they are within our rescue zone. Then they should be detained and then deported to whence they came

Do we let anybody who wants to come, come?

No

What do we do with the assylum seekers once they do arrive/intercepted/are saved?

All people who enter the country illegally, regardless of means of transport should be detained and then deported to whence they came

Do we just say "no"?

If the seeker is a genuine seeker of asylum and has taken the proper channels for entry then they may be given residency or a temporary protection visa

Do you even consider the "boat people" and people smugglers to be a problem for Australia?

YES

is it something that even needs fixing? 

If it remains unfixed we well be over run by invaders at our expense.

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[**meep**]

What do you think should be done with those who seek assylum and choose a boat as their method of transport?

without a visa?

Labor's PNG Solution is good to deter people smugglers, at the same time offering protection to those fleeing persecution.

[***super_nova***]

I do not think that boat arrivals are a huge problem in this moment, they are just a tiny proportion of overall intake of refugees.   They are just a political problem created all those years ago by the Howard government.  It is not like people are actually landing here and disappearing into population.  Even the couple of boats who made it to shore, just waited patiently for the coast guards to collect them.  Poor country like Indonesia has some 100 000 of misplaced people in their refugee camps, so I am not surprised they are not amused by ours squabbling about few thousands of boat arrivals.

Unfortunately there are no easy answers to refugees.  The world is in mess, there is a stampede of people looking for safety and future for themselves and their families.  I do not think it is possible to deal with this situation without fixing problems in the countries people are running away from, and plan ahead to to the future about situations which will make people to try to come to Australia.  Like islands sinking, countries being wiped off surface of the earth by ever more severe storms etc.  But then again, as Australia is predicted to be one of the countries hardest hit, it is quite possible that most climate change refugees will not be heading our way.  Actually, I can see your children on rickety boat to Java trying to escape the disaster here. 

[*mrgrizz*]

it is really quite easy to stop.

put them all straight onto a plane and fly them to a UN refugee camp.

then bring back the same number, of our choosing

the word will soon get out

[poddster]

That has a chance of working 🙂

and choose from the ones who have been there the longest