Turn the boats around says Abbott

Finally we have a policy that makes sense. If Tony Abbott is elected at the next election he is going to Jakarta to tell them Australia will no longer accept boat arrivals leaving Indonesia. And it’s about time, the Indonesians are laughing their heads off at our passive attitude, just sitting back and allowing it to happen, powerless to stop it, especially when we now know that Indonesian police have been involved.


And the question must be asked, what’s wrong with using our Navy to protect our borders? Some are worried that it could create bad Australia-Indonesia relations. They must be joking - we give them billions in aid yet they won’t lift a finger to help us stop them coming.


Will it be a problem for the Navy? Probably because we know from experience what might happen – the asylum-seekers will deliberately sabotage the boat and jump into the sea, which leaves the Navy no other choice but to pick them up and take them to safety, probably Nauru. Abbott admits it might not be possible in some instances and would rely upon Navy advice on how to make the boats safe for the return journey.


Tony Abbott has ruled out Labor’s Malaysian solution completely and is planning to toughen up temporary protection visas. Under Howard, almost all TPV holders were eventually granted visas but Abbott will impose a quota on how many visas are issued, in other words, it won’t automatically apply to everyone, some will definitely miss out.


The TPVs will apply from between six months and three years and denies family reunion and any holder who leaves Australia won’t be allowed back in. At expiry date, people will be sent home if the threat of their home country has eased.


A permanent visa would only be granted if the refugee claim was valid and a place was available under quota so people will stay on TPVs until they either go home or until a permanent place becomes available. And to top it all off, a maximum 3750 quota would apply to both boat arrivals and those who arrive legally - the legals would get first priority and boat arrivals would be last in the queue.


So it sounds pretty good, we get to stop the boats and the true refugees, too poor to pay the people smuggler fares, will finally get a fair go.