why cant refugees fly into australia?

Why must they pay $50,000-10,000 to get a passage on an unseaworthy boat and land and get processed?Why not say that they can use that money to buy tickets to fly in ...pardon me ,but I cant see the difference.A lot of lives would be saved and also savings of naval efforts.

Now, I have been told by recent arrivals from Russia ,that if anyone without permission attempts to cross their borders from Japan or China ,they on shot on sight.

A singaporean friend advises, that no refugee boats are accepted into Singapore.They are given food and fuel and sent back.As a result, it is very rarely that they see a refugee boat.People from both these countries cant understand what is allowed to happen here,but they will not comment publicly.Without recommending either of these approaches to this problem,it does leave you wondering whether Australia is the softess touch in the "Rufugee world."