“So, nothing substantial or controversial here either.” Should be the words to be written on his tombstone.

Nothing about ensuring that no boats slip through.

Nothing about the poor results obtained for the money put up.

I do not like these payments and consider them an attempt at bribing our neighbour in an effort to get them to do the right thing in relation to the two primary treaties of the UN regarding refugees and human rights, neither of which Indonesia has signed.

However, these payments are essentially another, linked story and are certainly not party political within Australia, because both conservative governments started them and the current one is simply continuing them. Not to do so would add further fuel to the fire and may thus be noteworthy.

So, nothing substantial or controversial here either.

You left out a little bit: Rudd slips the Indonesians a cool 50 million or so for patrolling and detention to ensure no boats slip through Indonesian waters on the way to Australia.

Refugees reported in Indonesian waters.

Indonesia seeks assistance.

Australian Customs vessel assists and heads towards the appropriate port following the rescue.

Indonesian local power-brokers refuse to accept more refugees, as they now claim to be; however this is as yet not tested. Indonesian Head of State should be embarrassed, but is seen to be toothless.

Indonesia is once again demonstrated to be not so much a unified nation as a group of tribes or a confederation of scoundrels.

Australian vessel unable to complete its task and awaits settlement of Indonesia’s internal problems or further orders from Australia.

Australian bleeding hearts and other blowhards seek to obtain mileage from others’ efforts to achieve a clear outcome.

Refugees, meanwhile, are housed, fed and cared for at Australia’s expense while diplomats wait for Indonesian internal disputes to be sorted.

Nothing to see here, folks! Move along!

As a result of his own meddling he has managed to re-hoist the spectre of the unlamented John Howard and his Richelieu, Philip Ruddock, with the unhappy result that Rudd seems to be divesting himself of dignity for himself and for the unhappy wretches on their Viking cruise.

James Bennett: Perhaps the writers at Crikey are concerned about that fragile flower called Democracy. By continuing to reveal the multi-faceted flaws of the Liberal Party there maybe-some fine day-a chance that someone in the Opposition
may actually ask themselves “Perhaps it’s all true?” Which is the first step in recognising a problem. He/she might start up a conversation. An idea might emerge and steps taken to revitalise the moribund old girl. An Opposition which is an opposition might be born. It might become viable! Although I woudn’t hold my breath.

We do have the entire Murdoch press bucketing Labor, do we not?

No, I think the liberal side is much closer to what the Democrats were before they deposed Natasha and became the Whingers Party. The Democrats could have got somewhere if they (a) kicked out the (un)professional nosebleeds and (b) sought a coalition with the Liberals. They could have reminded the Libs what ‘L’ stands for.

The right is traditionally a marriage of convenience between the libertarians and the powerful, who both tend to want the same things for different reasons. Almost everyone — including, at the end, the Democrats — thought the Democrats belonged to the Left. They were wrong.

The main problem relating to the Government’s handling of the boat people is actually the oppositions response.

Bernard also sees every issue thru the prism of liberal failure, particularly climate change.

I guess Howard and Co must have kicked your skinny asses good while they held power, but at some stage can you guys move on and do your Crikey job which is surely to analyse and harangue the mob thats actually in power and making the decisions.

If we want to read stuff thats simply always critical of the libs ( and they are an easy target ) we can subscribe to the braying’s of Kevin and Julia.