Looks like the PNG solution is working.

[i-need-a-martini]

I'm surprised it is making an impact so soon. Whilst I am still no agreeng with the policy in it's entirety, if it means that we have less people in vulnerable positions at sea then that has to be a win.

Tough policies preventing settlement in Australia appear to be deterring asylum seekers, with signs of boat arrivals tapering off and reports of people demanding refunds from people smugglers.

...And a senior Defence source said that arrivals appeared to be tapering off since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced his hardline solution of sending asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea. The highly placed source noted that poor weather was also a factor but was unlikely to account for the extent of the downturn.

One asylum seeker in Indonesia told Fairfax Media that people smugglers could now find ''hardly any'' people willing to board their boats.

Boat arrivals have been down about a quarter since Mr Rudd announced the PNG plan. But that includes a massive spike in the week after the plan was announced, with about 1250 arrivals in those seven days, including six boats with nearly 500 passengers in one day.

Mr Burke: ''There is no doubt that the message is getting through. For everything that's been attempted in the past with people smugglers, it's become clear that the only way to affect them is to take their product away and to take their customers away. When I say the demands for money back are widespread, they are absolutely widespread.''

A senior Defence source said there did appear to be a slowing of arrivals, although poor weather to Australia's north was likely having an influence.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/dropoff-in-boat-arrivals-20130807-2rgur...

[azureline**]

I would not necessarily choose to watch a program like that either, however it did make me see a different side of why the people are leaving. I would do it in a heartbeat if my child was at risk walking to school.

[windrake]

Boats are still coming every day. How's that working? I know, we'll believe them this time just like we did last time and look where that got us. 

[just_me_karen]

No they're not

[poison_ivys_pen]

I'm not going to quote your post Iza as it's rather a long post but I think it's a good highlight of the history of the Afghani people in Australian history and the invaluable contribution they made into the exploration of the outback of Australia.

The Ghan Train is named in their honor 🙂

I am not sure if Rudd's 'solution' is really a solution to halt boats coming here they will still come but what confounds me is why they don't send in Embassy people/Immagration officials to sort it out there in Indonesia before they get the chance to get on a boat, I know that sounds simplistic but makes sense to me to get on the ground there and process and work that out with the Indonesian Goverment to be able to do so, it may stop boats then and these people putting their lives at risk coming on boats.

[just_me_karen]

That makes sense, Ivy. They definitely need to work more closely with Indonesia.

[azureline**]

---

@windrake wrote:

Boats are still coming every day. How's that working? I know, we'll believe them this time just like we did last time and look where that got us. 

---

they are?

[acacia_pycnantha]

I thought the boats had begun to reduce in number and that there was a mass request for refunds from people smugglers by their customers.

Is that true?

[acacia_pycnantha]

So what are the stats on those new arrivals who find they won't be settled in Oz?

What percentage of those have chosen to return to their country of origin rather accept refuge in PNG?

[***super_nova***]

---

@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

So what are the stats on those new arrivals who find they won't be settled in Oz?

What percentage of those have chosen to return to their country of origin rather accept refuge in PNG?

---

I think it is bit early to say, I would think you need few months, at least till the end of the year to get any meaningful stats.  And you need the news to get through to everybody heading this way.  There will be some so desperate that they will come, some might not realise what PNG is like.  Some might go to PNG and after a while decide to go back, and then try to go to Europe and then on to Canada.  

[nero_bolt]

Another boat?  

Another POLICY FAILURE by LABOR and RUDD

There is now almost a boat a day arriving or calling for help, despite Kevin Rudd’s threats:

PAN PAN
FM RCC AUSTRALIA 100659Z AUG 2013 AUSSAR 2013/5369

AUS 4070 INDIAN OCEAN SOUTHERN PART

A VESSEL WITH 50 POB HAS REPORTED THAT IT IS IN DISTRESS AND REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. VESSEL INDICATES IT’S POSITION AS 09-30.32S 104-36.82E AT 100621UTC AUG 2013.

VESSELS WITHIN 6 HOURS ARE REQUESTED TO CLOSE AND RENDER ASSISTANCE AS REQUIRED.