I don't think the one up manship is deliberate karen. I would say decisive policy making in light of the election campaign.

He has other issues to deal with but unfortunately the opposition have made certain issues, like asylum seekers, the BIGGEST issue. Rudd has rightly dealt with those things first.

Indonesia could easily stop the boats.

Budgeted Foreign aid to Indonesia= $A

Cost to salvage a sunk Indonesian boat =$B

Cost of Navy to rescue survivors =$C

Cost to feed passangers =$D

Cost to house passengers = $E

Ongoing costs per person/year*(n) = $F

Unforseen expenses = $G

Resultant aid to Indonesia, $A-$B-$C-$D-$E-$F-$G=$H

Indonesia will bend over backwards to take action.

Or not. Indonesia might just get  rather angry with Australia, and no sensible person would want that.

Angry at what?

Not receiving the an amount that Australia voluntarily gives in the first place?

Angry that your suggestion, if implemented might be construed by Indonesia as bullying.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/novisa/regional-arrangements.pdf

Have a read... how solid is this arrangements and how much is it going to cost us... 

Are we going to pay for all the expenses of ALL the refugees into PNG... 

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

Catmad is simply repeating the latest from Abbotts BFF, Newman. 

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For the record I was posting about how close PNG is to Aust yesterday, go back to the start of the thread and read for yourself...... that was way before any mention from Newman... Facts are that anyone that lives in QLD should know about the costs to the government that PNG visitors are. 

So before you accuse me of repeating what anyone else says may I suggest you gather all the facts before posting.

Roll out the printing presses, free money for everyone.

It seems like a heavy-handed solution to me, and yes, quite expensive, but if it works, if the boats stop coming because they know they won't get residence here, then the temporay expense might  be worth it.

We are already paying for food and accomodation and upkeep of detention centres etc.

I can't accept this as a solution because it was drummed up as an election winner. 

The same as it is done at every election.  I think some people might not know why I am upset about it.  It's because real people and deaths and heartache are used at every election in Australia.

What about focusing on our elderly, our health system, the education of our kids or grandchildren, housing, interest rates, petrol prices, and the grocery shopping monopoly.

It's not that I don't care about these people.  I really do.