Refugees at Sea - The recent issue involving the Tampa boat people has raised two persisting questions. Who is a refugee and where should he or she find refuge?

Essay - Refugees at Sea The recent issue involving the Tampa boat people has raised two persisting questions. Who is a refugee and where should he or she find refuge? A refugee is a person who is being persecuted, be it for religious, ethnic or political reasons. Traditionally, refugees sought sanctuary in their own geographical or cultural environment to return home as soon as it was safe. However, the revolution in transport and communications, continual …

…goes through the right channels to migrate, and also make a mockery of the system. People smuggling like all businesses depends on demand. If Australia just allows boatloads and boatloads of people to arrive on our shores, then the success of these illegal immigrants will fuel further demand for people smuggling. The tough new stand on people smuggling adopted by the Australian government is necessary to stem the flow of illegal boat people to Australia.