Rappa - I agree with you, but we all know that the initial so-called 'rescue/cum detention' was simply so we don't get swamped by thousands of people fleeing their endangered countries around the Indian Ocean rim, not only are some Muslim, which fact according to HotCopper speaking for Australia seems to be a capital crime, but refugees from the Middle East might mingle as well and there might be environmental refugees, above all they are mostly uneducated and of a darker hue than us, but the official version was 'to stop them dying on the seas' - and still is as I heard and saw Brandis mouth off yesterday on one of those discussion programs. We have begun to believe our own lies - always a dangerous thing.
(The fear is another version of the former 'Yellow Danger' - don't know if you are old enough to remember - I was a child/ young teenager then.)
We had to send a message; I understand that and agree with it. But our politicians, being what they are, a useless bunch of ditherers who cannot even face the last week of Parliament in order to get some of the ordinary business done, are incapable of acting.
After a certain amount of time elapsed, say - 1 1/2 years, in which time all their IDs could have been checked, I would have quietly integrated them either in Papua or even allowed them into Australia. Instead it's become a huge issue, with all those people probably damaged for life, insofar that they got used to a life of leisure, but also have emotional issue, most of them probably genuinely hate us by now and if allowed in could present a danger.
Our own population is split on the issue: there are demonstrations in public and on TV, which are nothing short of hysterical, in the meantime the remaining humanity with itchy feet is silently watching and waiting their chance.
I am pretty fed up with our pollies and feel like sacking them and starting all over again - yes, another election coming up, most likely, because I believe my sentiment is shared across the population.
Why is it suddenly such an issue that some politicians may have double citizenship? Would it make all the decisions/laws which have been made whilst they were in Parliament illegal? would they have to pay back their salaries? It's just crazy what is going on in Canberra atm.
Surely it wouldn't have been that difficult to continue as is, allow everyone to check their status and resign if found positive (2 citizenships) and afterwards check through any legislation for content which might have been compromised because some of the votes in Parliament were serving that other nation. I doubt that there are many subject matters which would have been affected by someone holding dual citizenships.
I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with Jacqui Lambie last night, a new sensation for me.