@dlowan,
I find it a hard thing to deal with. I think, of course, that every person should be dealt with humanely. I also recognise the actual numbers are minute and everyone is over-reacting dreadfully. Pepijn points out that Netherlands gets 10's of thousands of illegals. On the other hand, once people arrive, it is often impossible to repatriate them, because of the dreadful state of their home country. How many displaced people would jump at the chance to live in Australia? I agree that action has to be taken to prevent the flow of illegal migrants. Apart from anything else, it is unfair to those who apply through the normal means. But I don't know what action. I think all the tough talk from the Libs is fundamentally delusional. You could only dissuade people from coming if you were positively inhuman to them. Most of them come from circumstances which make an Australian detention centre look like a viable option.
All I know is, this issue is not going away anytime soon, anywhere in the world. Europe has major integration issues with immigrant populations. And the US. Ultimately, the only way to solve it is through trade, aid, and development. If whole countries fail, or whole populations are displaced, the world is going to be facing some awfully tough choices.
)
Just heard Bob Brown (Greens leader). Clear, concise, intelligent, compassionate as always. (My hero! 
