Re your comment: "Another boat, another policy failure."
Australia's population post 1788 owes much of its increase to the transportation of convicts from the UK, to 'legal immigration' and to the arrivals of refugees. An interesting mix that has made Australia what it is today.
As far as I'm concerned the death of JW Howard's disgraceful, inhumane and draconian offshore detention regime is a fantastic development.
I am absolutely delighted that Julia Gillard's solutions have been scuttled by Tony Abbott the Wrecker. At last Australia now has an opportunity to return to more humane treatment of refugees.
