Thanks brc. This is is a good summation of all the Liberal (in oz Liberal = conservative) talking points.

>including the idea that what happens to the people on Nauru is mysterious or that they are in limbo

not true

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/legal-fight...

>The families on Nauru are free to leave and return to their country of origin any time they choose. They are free to participate in the local community and are not behind barbed wire.

some choice

https://theconversation.com/australias-folly-returns-afghan-...

>The people who have self-harmed have been in contact with the legal industry inside Australia that prospers from their continued presence.

not true, and pretty bloody stupid to believe imho. not to mention that most legal aid to refugees is donated. the only people making money off this are transfield and serco.

https://news.vice.com/article/australia-admits-wrongfully-ac...

>The undeniable facts of the matter was that when Australia temporarily relaxed the border protection laws, by the governments own statistics, at least 1,500 men, women and children drowned at sea. Most well known was when a timber fishing boat smashed into rocks in front of news cameras as people drowned.

well, 1200 anyway, and there is a very good argument presented in this article that we are simply pushing the problem elsewhere. but yes the previous policy had to change.

https://theconversation.com/factcheck-did-1200-refugees-die-...

>Since the reinstatement of the laws, the only people who have been harmed are those that have self-harmed.

not true, and not to mention the many reports of daily violence from these detention centres, staff against detainees and vice versa

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-26/scott-morrison-release...

>There is zero doubt that the laws save lives, and crucially, also provide the ability for people to support genuine refugee settlement, such as the processing of 12,000 Syrian refugees, more than the USA is doing, despite the USA having 14x the population of Australia.

well, 30 anyway

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-17/29-refugees-resettled-...

>The laws have broad support amongst Australian voters, including this voter. The advocates for open borders and a 'let them in' attitude are a small but noisy minority.

not exactly true, while most australians are against migrantion generally, and against higher refugee immigration, they are also considerably more compassionate than you might think with regard to the treatment of the refugees under the current laws

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/19/austra...

>Australia still maintains a sizeable immigrant intake every year, drawing on people from around the world.

though much reduced since even the previous administration, and for no apparent reason

>Frankly, the rest of the world can call me and fellow citizens as many names as they like but border protection is an important task for a Federal government, and I'm totally comfortable with it.

Frankly, you are a lucky bastard who, like myself, had the good fortune to be born or let into this country. Blindness to others suffering is at the root cause of the refugee issue.