Kevin Rudd has sold out to get elected?

[j*oono]

I'm really disappointed.  Now we are not just the lucky country.  We are the up yours country.

Refugees are being turned back to suffer in PNG.   Every election I am so sick of the boat refugees being used.  Every single time since Howard got in with the kids being thrown into the water to drown it's been the most disgusting use of human life to rule a country.

Shame on you Rudd.

[tulip*place]

Rudd's new policy will upset the people smuggers as business will slow down for them when the refugees find out that they won't end up in Australia but PNG. 

[donnashuggy]

I am in favour, too many are coming via boats and many not seeking asylum for persecution.

Should we have hundreds of thousands each year landing via boat when there are those sitting in camps in Africa that cannot afford the luxury of getting on a boat?

It's an extremely good way to deter them, cruel as it seems something needs to be done.

[1sweetap6v8]

I dont care either way, Rudds way or the coalitions way , As long as it fixes the problem and I think it will have a good effect either way because like others have said even here , If your really a refugee your not going to care where they put you because saftey is suppose to be your NUMBER 1 goal when fleeing for your life from your own country.   Lets not beat around the bush the majority of these people are not genuine and are not coming from a country that is at war civil or other wise, (Iran) so as long as the GENUINE refugees are catered for what is the problem here.?  Economic refugees should not be given access over those doing the right thing and appling to immagrate properly.  You do realise each time one of these are allowed to stay it is taken from the yearly immagration numbers meaning someone somewhere who did the right thing and applied will have to wait , Now is that fair if those so called que jumpers are not GENUINE.  

[1sweetap6v8]

@a_dingo_ate_my_chinwagger  That was what Howard had in place and it worked fine, But Rudds solution is the same in a different way thats all.  Im happy that labor have woke up to it but this is there fault to start with.  Point is it does not matter which government fixes it just do it.

[katydidthat]

Shall we have a look at the myth of "economic refugees"?  

Let's imagine an Iranian family who want to leave their country and come to Australia for financial reasons.  

Do they fly to Indonesia, pay $5,000 per person to get on a leaky boat that may or may not sink on the way?  Or, do they simply buy a return plane ticket to Australia and get a tourist visa and outstay their official welcome here, being pretty sure that they won't be put in a detention centre because they FLEW here?  

[donnashuggy]

The big difference Katy is that they get deported if they get caught and there are many people will give them up.

[1sweetap6v8]

Over staying your visa is entirely different to claiming asylum.  For a start you will be deported and fined. 

[katydidthat]

The point I'm making is that the majority of people who are desperate enough to get on that leaky boat are truly genuine refugees. Leaving Iran (or wherever), they can't use their real id, because they are on a LIST, or being watched ... so the Indonesia route is their best chance.

There's a much better chance if they just fly in and seek shelter here with friends or family ... if you are NOT a genuine refugee.

And, while Iran may not be in a state of war, like Afghanistan, conditions there are not pretty.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@katydidthat wrote:

Shall we have a look at the myth of "economic refugees"?  

Let's imagine an Iranian family who want to leave their country and come to Australia for financial reasons.  

Do they fly to Indonesia, pay $5,000 per person to get on a leaky boat that may or may not sink on the way?  Or, do they simply buy a return plane ticket to Australia and get a tourist visa and outstay their official welcome here, being pretty sure that they won't be put in a detention centre because they FLEW here?  

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I don't understand what point you are trying to make katy?

[i-need-a-martini]

Ok got it,

I don't care if they are economic refugees or fleeing for their lives, they are still people who need to leave their own country to find a better life for themselves.

But absolutely the argument that these are people with money therefore they can't be refugees is a dumb argument because as you say, if money is all it took they could be in the country within a few days via legal means.