You know what the huge difference is regarding the lives that were tragically lost while Howard was PM, it seems the people smuggling enterprise was in it's infancy. The infamous "Tampa" affair in 2001 bought to light the rising people smuggling business model. The Howard Government refused permission for 433 refugees allegedly rescued from a sinking "fishing" vessel in International waters.
With the realisation that there would likely be more of these refugees, the Howard government introduced the Border Protection Bill into the House of Representatives, saying it would confirm Australian sovereignty to "determine who will enter and reside in Australia". The government introduced the "Pacific Solution", whereby the asylum seekers were taken to Nauru where their refugee status was considered, rather than in Australia
When the dopey Labor Party stumbled in to Government in 2007, they all but unwound the Pacific Solution, by doing so they opened the door to the people smugglers to send hundreds of people to their deaths at sea.
The Howard Government curtailed the people smuggler's activity, in effect likely saving thousands of lives...the Rudd / Gillard / Rudd Government conversely had blood on their hands through their own stupid lack of snarts...allowing the smugglers to ramp up their operation...
