morrison the hollow man, page-50

You dont have to be poor to be a refugee. It could be anyone facing death, imprisonment, torture for getting on the wrong side of the despots or powers in control. It could be a doctor or business person or former government member or anyone facing such circumstances. The fact they find themselves in a relatively poor country such as Indonesia is indicative that it hasn't been an easy road for them.

I agree we need to to have control over those that want to come here but we ought to do it humanely and within the law both domestic and International. The current govt expects Indonesia to carry the burden rather than share the load.

I recall that when Gillard tried to introduce the Malaysia option Abbott and Joe Hockey with now apparently hypocritical fake anguish opposed it on the basis that Malaysia were not signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and yet now they are happy to turn back the boats and even give them a $200,000.00 lifeboat to return to Indonesia which is also not a signatory to the UN convention.

I actually thought that Joe Hockeys anguish where he appeared to choke up at the time when he made references to children was genuine but where is he now, when men women and maybe even unaccompanied children might be on the boats that are being turned back to a country that is not a signatory to the UN Convention. Once the Navy intercepts and takes them on board they are an Australian responsibility, but what happens the boats are either pushed back by military demand or they are offloaded onto lifeboats and forced to go back. They are not escorted safely all the way to a suitable destination because the Navy can no longer enter Indonesian waters so we don't really know what has happened to all of them. Secrecy makes it difficult for media or anyone to establish the facts.

I could be wrong but I have a feeling the current policy is going to unravel unless the Indonesians come on board and better arrangements are made.