Today, the 700th illegal boat arrived under Labor’s watch

[nero_bolt]

The latest arrival of two vessels carrying 157 people takes the total number of illegal boats that have arrived on Labor’s watch past 700.

Over 42,000 people have arrived on 701 boats since the Rudd-Gillard Government dismantled the Howard Government’s border protection regime.

Labor’s decision to dismantle the Howard Government’s policies has put our country’s security at risk.

It has cost hundreds of lives lost at sea and resulted in thousands of people entering our communities without rigorous security checks.

Every illegal boat arrival cost Australians $12.8 million (on average) – and that’s money which could otherwise go to fund hospitals, roads and help repay debt.

It has seen border protection cost blowouts of more than $10 billion for a system that does not work – that’s money which could otherwise fund hospitals, roads and help repay debt.

Labor’s mismanagement has also included the detention of a convicted jihadist terrorist in low security family accommodation at Inverbrackie in South Australia.

This jihadist was a member of the terrorist organisation Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which merged with al Qaeda in 2001, many years before his arrival by boat.

With an average of 100 people now arriving every day, Australia cannot afford three more years of Labor failure.

[**meep**]

I find it odd that some of the migrants are those who scorn refugees the most.

It's rather odd listening to a person using very broken English, after being here for years, slinging off about asylum seekers.

I can't believe you 'said' that.

If they are Australian Citizens, what difference does it make what they sound like????!!!

[cueperkins]

Iza, that's already being called into question with recent remarks from Indonesia on his 'turn back the boats' policy, and Malaysia's strip search and subsequent expulsion of Xeneophon....as a security risk over his remarks about them?

Great track record so far wouldn't you say?

WAR = REFUGEES

Stop the wars and you'll Stop the refugees...until then NOBODY can 'STOP the boats', not even super Tony.

The rhetoric has already changed from 'we'll stop the boats' to "a Coalition government would 'substantially' stop the flow of asylum seeker boats and we'd be disappointed if we didn't".  huh?...lmao....so he's not super human?..he can't blow them back with his hot air & rhetoric?

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2012/s3752076.htm

By the time he sleazes into Govt on lip service (non unlike O'Farrell did), the language will change again, and it'll be all ALP's fault that the boats just keep coming.

Meanwhile Australia is made to look like a racist, uneducated paranoid nation, with an opposition determined to manipulate public opinion with words like 'Illegal' and 'queue Jumping', this is just one such example..

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-17/cassidy-a-rare-challenge-for-abbott/4203120

Abbott, discussing the asylum seekers issue, asserted:

Abbott: Frankly, we've had 22,000 illegal arrivals, almost 400 illegal boats ...

Faine responded: They're not illegal. Tony Abbott, do I need to remind you that the use of words in this is critical? They are not illegal arrivals. There is nothing illegal about seeking asylum when you are a refugee.

Abbott: Well, I'm making my point Jon ...

Faine: Well, so am I making mine! And I think it's been made to you before.

"Tony Abbott did not further dispute the point. Like an errant school kid, he seemed to accept the admonishment. Yet within 24 hours, he was again referring to asylum seekers as illegals. Nobody in the media pulled him up. He knew they wouldn't. They rarely do.

For the record, he is wrong in domestic and in international law.

The Migration Act 1958 allows for those seeking asylum to enter Australia, with or without visas. The same situation is covered by the United Nations Refugee Convention, of which Australia is a signatory.

This is important for two reasons. Firstly, the truth matters. Secondly, the use of the word "illegal" suggests the Coalition is supporting tougher action against asylum seekers as "punishment" for breaking the law, whereas the publicly held position is that the measures are being adopted to discourage asylum seekers from taking a dangerous journey by boat.

That was almost the same time last year, and still it just drones on and on and on with the same rubbish....This whole debate just irks me...we're not talking about cattle, we're talking about people. (cattle have more rights apparently).

THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL....sheesh - it's about to get much worse....what then?

[cueperkins]

He'll enjoy them with some fava beans and a nice Chianti ;\

:^O:^O:^O:^O:^O

[lakeland27]

I can't believe you 'said' that.

If they are Australian Citizens, what difference does it make what they sound like????!!!

i find the same thing, not the broken english.. but children of migrants often are the most vocal. 4th gen like myself are less fussed often.

[freakiness]

I can't believe you 'said' that.

If they are Australian Citizens, what difference does it make what they sound like????!!!

Why?

I don't know if they're Australian citizens or not. I just find it odd that people who came here from far away can speak so scornfully about people coming now.

I've heard people with strong accents claim we should stop accepting migrants and I find it odd.  Makes me chuckle is all  😄

[lakeland27]

I chuckle when i hear STr Cormann  speak in his belgian accent about the topic, him and his first class flight in to australia and a senate seat.

[**meep**]

Why?

I don't know if they're Australian citizens or not. I just find it odd that people who came here from far away can speak so scornfully about people coming now.

I've heard people with strong accents claim we should stop accepting migrants and I find it odd.  Makes me chuckle is all  😄

Imagine an immigrant with a heavy accent being in charge of our immigration policies.  Wouldn't that be a hoot!!  

Imagine them saying  that an increase to our humanitarian intake was targeted to those in most need: "those vulnerable people offshore, not those getting on boats"

😮

[izabsmiling]

Meep, I can't work out what your views are .You came over here as an immigrant when you were a child ?

and you said recently that 'you look Australian" .

My son was born here ,he is not blonde haired and blue eyed .

What do you think looking Australian means ? Is there a look ,should there be a look ?

[**meep**]

What are you talking about Iza?  I was almost 16 when I came here.  I don't have blue eyes either.  I have dark, brown eyes.

Is this about Martini's thread about the Cronulla riots when she mentioned something about "Australian" appearance?    In that context and those circumstances, I would have been considered to have more of an "Australian" appearance. Sorry, I thought it was obvious what we were discussing.

[**meep**]

What exactly are you confused about?  Which particular views of mine should I make more clear?