As a political junkie, the most boring issue for me is how both sides of politics treat asylum seekers.

Nothing ever changes except the number of boats and sadly the death toll. Both sides treat asylum seekers as a law and order issue. Abbott on a regular basis decries them as illegal which is incorrect.The Government has worked through a laundry list of options including Christmas Island, Manus Island and concluding with the failed Nauru open prison experiment. Little wonder the asylum seekers there have mental health issues.

But this time they are really toughening up.

Now the Government is introducing community work restrictions and the Opposition will attempt to reintroduce temporary protection visas.  Besides Chris Bowen is now sending a message to Sri Lanka that the journey is dangerous (true) but that Australia isn’t an easy place to live in!

As Tony Windsor points out, it is veiled racism. If we are lucky, the new legislation may be challenged on the same grounds as the Malaysian solution. Let’s hope so.

There’s one small problem with all of this.  Anyone who flees their place of birth is courageous and resilient. Inevitably they make great  citizens.  See Fawad Ahmed who is playing for the Melbourne Renegades cricket team. Many other examples abound.

Australia is an immigrant country. As an immigrant country we need more people who are courageous and resilient. As an immigrant country, there is no place for racism. None.