Stopping the boats !

Another " refugee " boat sinking on it's way to Christmas island.   Once again navy patrol boats and search aircraft save some lives - at a huge cost to the Australian taxpayer.  In some cases, these rickety boats are barely out of sight of the Indonesian shore when they radio for help, and we are bending over backwards so as not to upset the Indonesian government.

Time for a realistic look at this entire " asylum boat " mess.   This is really an Indonesian tourist travel industry.   These are Indonesian vessels, flying the Indonesian flag and crewed by Indonesians who are - for a fare - conveying paying passengers to Australian territory at Christmas island.

We are well aware that the people smugglers ply their trade openly and from the vast profits, pay bribes to Indonesian police and government personnel to " look the other way " and not impede what they consider a " business " !

It's time we got tough and sat down and had a very terse talk with the Indonesian government.    Australia is a very good friend to it's near neighbour.  We are a generous aid donor and a trading partner, and we have every right to expect the Indonesians to pull their weight in stopping these boats from leaving their shores.

Just imagine if this was a trans Tasman problem.   If rising sea levels were causing Pacific island people to flee to New Zealand, and the Kiwi's were putting them in Kiwi flagged boats, crewed by Kiwi's - and dumping them on the Australian east coast ?

Of course we want to maintain good relations with Indonesia, but that is a two way deal - and we have every right to expect their help to solve what is really a mutual problem.   These " refugees " are openly flying into Indonesian airports with passports and travel documents - which they destroy when they get on boats bound for Australia.   Indonesia needs to crack down hard at its entry points and police it's marine traffic to stop this trade - and deport those claiming to be seeking asylum, but who have failed to register with the UN at their first landfall after leaving their old country.

The " asylum boat problem " and housing these so called "refugees " in detention centres is costing Australia billions.    We should be willing to divert some of this cost into helping Indonesia pay to put the people smugglers out of business. Stopping the boats could be a rewarding joint exercise of value to both countries.

It's time for some very direct discussions with the Indonesian government and if they refuse to do their part in stopping this trade, then there will be an inevitable " cooling " in relations and second thoughts on the aid we provide to that nation.

Maintaining goodrelations with a neighbour is not a " one way street ".   We expect something in return.     The time has come to sit down with our Indonesian counterparts - and do some very plain talking !