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bert on Can Millsy sing? You judge I understand that the Geneva convention bans water-boarding and Millsy's singing from being used as a means to extract ... more
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Navy is now a taxi service

Posted by: Paul Entwistle | 5 July, 2012 - 8:50 AM

Australian customs vessels are being used as a taxi service by people smugglers.

People smugglers have reduced the Australian boarder protection policy to a joke after an Australian navy vessel rescued asylum seekers just 50 km of the Indonesian coastline. Paul Murray spoke to opposition immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison.

Blog comments

I pity sailors in this navy. They are reduced to being nursemaids and rescuers for illegal immigrants - that's not what the navy is for! The navy is there to train to defend the country. That's what I joined for many years ago. If I was put in the position that sailors are in now, I would leave at the first opportunity.
Who is this idiot who is claiming that the navy should be on Indonesia's doorstep all the time for humanitarian reasons? The Indonesians have the capacity to effect rescues but lack the will. They don't want the wrong type of Muslims in their country and too many officials are making a good living off the 'trade.'

Popeye Sunday 8 July, 2012 - 10:21 AM
Why don't the Government take it one step further and have the Navy wait at an Indonesian for port for anyone who wants a free ride to Australia and free entry, accomodation, etc. That will make all the do-gooders happy.

Pete Friday 6 July, 2012 - 6:42 AM
About time! Human decency mandated this long ago, however we have let people drown. The Australian Navy should be north of Christmas Island to the Arafura Sea to ensure our Asylum Seekers receive safe passage and escort to our welcoming shores. Basarnas and the Indonesian Navy do not have the capacity to adequately assist and our government obviously has always known this. Let us oust ourselves out of pithy vacuums of inhumanity and into the swell of human compassion and honour.
Gerry Georgatos

Gerry Georgatos Thursday 5 July, 2012 - 7:12 PM