Panic at the sight of a boat arriving certainly sends a message, namely that we in Australia are unable to respond humanely to the complexity of a current world phenomenon. The message, in any case, is beamed more to the Australian electorate than to people in southern China. Our onshore refugee policy needs to be comprehensive and constant. Our response should be based on a sound process for assessing refugees and on a willingness to deal with root causes. Turning a few boats around will not prevent others arriving.
Panic only creates calls for more drastic, and unwise, responses.