So do I Via but so what? We are tallking about national immigration policies and whether entry should be free (anyone can come) or restricted (quotas are set and there is selectivity of intakes).

What in the name of goodness are you on about? Are you really suggestinmg that we should have open borders?

As a Melbournian, I encounter migrants every day – tons of ‘em, hundreds some days. You know what they have in common? They’re trying to get by, to get ahead, to live a full and happy life, just like me and my friends. There are a few bad eggs sure, but I’d agree with FXH that these idiot dog owners are a much bigger problem.

Who decides what an “Australian” is? FXH is again on the money with the pointer that two migrants have a baby here, it’s an Australian. I find the hysteria that ferments/foments around this issue quite regularly now is unecessary, and unbecoming. We live in a massive country, simply massive. I heard some numbskull on ABC talkback today suggesting that Singapore should pull its weight. I was in Singapore last weekend. It’s house full there – there’s no bloody room left!

Australia belongs to Australians. We are a sovereign country despite the ‘no borders’ nonsense of the left. We are not a dumping ground for the world’s refugees though we will do our bit – 10,000-12,000 a year is enough. Open borders – the subject of my post – definitely not.

Encouraging queue jumpers on the grounds that they show entrepreneurial zeal and enterprise would be about the most daft policy I could imagine. I didn’t feel the need to respond to this one at length.

All I have restated above is what government policy has been for 30 years. Its amazing how any suggestion that we will restrict the intake arouses such angst. I support restrictions – so has every government in Australia since Federation.

But then just as with capital punishment and enhanced interrogation techniques the real issue here is not about what type of people they are but rather what type we are.

Harry even if you thought a harsh policy is a cruel necessity, there is no rational reason to demonise the victims of this policy as you and so many others have. Maybe it’s just your bad conscience at the “necessary” cruelty, but you are definitely in ugly company. Though I can’t help thinking that if the boat people were white Zimbabwean farmers we’d hear a bit more from you about their daring and a lot less about their depravity.

Harry I’d rather have more control over who breeds here, and who owns a pitbull, than worry about refugees failings.

Harrys suggesting we shouldnt take more than 10 to 12 k of refugees pa if i read correctly.

In terms of house full and how many total immigrations we should take, thats a somewhat different debate.