Knock, knock, who's there? Hopeful souls at every door

This ruling was later overturned and the Commonwealth, fearing a tide of pink refugees, has been fighting them ever since, another front on the war not to appear too soft on migration. The couple appeared for the fourth time last month before the Refugee Review Tribunal and were subjected to fierce questioning to prove their homosexuality.

If even modest predictions regarding climate change come to light, the debate over what constitutes an environmental refugee will also heat up, possibly further extending the category.

There is no doubt that bona fide refugees should be treated humanely according to international law.

Furthermore, while in the 1960s and 1970s many of the world's refugees were the product of anti-colonial struggles, in recent decades the scale and speed of refugee movements increased significantly due to the new forms of communal violence flaring up as the Cold War ended. This may have contributed to less sympathetic responses from Western countries.

A crucial determinant to whether they encounter sympathy or hostility is if their circumstances emotionally resonate with us. The lukewarm response after expatriate protests from the Sri Lankan community earlier this year suggest the conflict there is too far removed.

The emotional blackmail from the refugees suggesting they may drown themselves if blocked from landing in Australia can only worsen their public relations position.

Despite the difficulties, on the rung of access to residency, asylum and refugee status represents the path of least resistance for those seeking migration, especially for those unable to pay to study. The education agents spruiking dodgy courses are only slightly more respectable than people smugglers.

Global interconnectedness means the spotlight on migration rules around the world has never been more intense. Like international students, the mass of humanity upon our Asian doorstep will come knocking wherever there is a door. Opening it must be carefully managed.