Afghans saving Aussie bacon

This is where asylum seekers can add something positive to the mix.

Anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests that, in the main, refugees are intelligent and hard working people who, in fleeing persecution and economic hardship, want to settle in and be part of the community that accepts them.

It's a notion supported by some of Australia's great post-war business and cultural success stories.

People such as Australian of the Year and leading pediatrician, John Yu, or mining magnate Sir Arvi Parbo are two who spring to mind.

In fact, a recently released British Government report contains some fascinating findings on the positive economic contribution of migrants, including refugees.

This report not only finds that migrants are not a burden on British taxpayers, but on the contrary make a net fiscal contribution.

In short, migrants contribute about $3 for every $2 that they receive in government welfare. And the study destroys the myth that migrants, and in particular refugees who are generally of working age, take our jobs, as some populists in Australia would have us believe.

The British report finds that migrants also produce indirect benefits, such as introducing new industries or increasing the productivity of existing labour and capital.

Australia has a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of the flow of refugees to our country. We can either watch many parts of our nation slowly die through lack of enterprise and an ageing population, or we can follow the example of the community in Young and welcome refugees into our lives. We should see the cruelty of long periods of mandatory detention as a waste of a substantial economic resource, particularly for regional Australia.