Can boat people be turned back?

I am convinced that the refugee problem will not be going away and, indeed, will be with us for at least a generation or much more. It's time to take a sensible long-term view and handle it with much greater humanity, efficiency and justice than we do now.

It is very obvious that the "Turn Back The Boats" policy is an act of absolute stupidity, as well as being offensive to the people of Indonesia, who are not refugees themselves and who cannot adequately police the shores of the 5,000 islands that make up their nation.

It is also a massive breach of the laws of the sea. We contravened those laws badly when we terrorised the captain and crew of the Tampa who had carried out a humane act to save people who were drowning.

I am delighted that Captain Arne Rinnan received a high honour from the King of Norway for his services to humanity. He is a good guy. Just the way most Australians are when governments do not urge them to act illegally and inhumanely so as to win elections.

Left alone to do the right thing in giving people a fair go and a helping hand when they obviously need it, we shine as human beings.

Finally, can I say that if Aboriginal tribes had stopped the British boat people in 1788, my convict ancestor would not have made it here. So, I am grateful to Indigenous Australians for their tolerance of those who invaded their land. I am also baffled as to how we can revere the First Fleet, yet declare current boat people to be illegal.