Graham, I admire your idealism. There is a difficulty however when the good of the individual conflicts with the good of society.
Each individual boatperson wants to better themselves and their family. So would I. Its natural, its proper.
However Australia can't allow every one of the world's less fortunate in. We have to say no to some. We have to set a limit, we have to erect a fence.
Having set that limit its tempting to say yes to the next person over the limit. Those wanting to be seen as better people will criticise those manning the fence, they want to lobby on behalf of the individual not allowed in. This is cheap populism.
Once both major parties have realised that there has to be a fence, has to be a limit we are just talking about the fence mechanism. That's where we are now. Both Libs and Labs have agreed to no more residency for boatpeople.
We are just considering how to temporarily house those trying to breach our fence or in genuine need.
I suggest that we do this ourselves, not outsource it to some struggling third world island. It is ours to manage. It must be humane but not an attraction.
