Australia's politicians and its citizenry generally have a pretty poor approach to refugees.

I admit it's a terribly complex area and I find myself caught between contradictory thoughts.

I agree that we have to find a way of stopping people getting onto boats to make a very hazardous journey across treacherous seas in boats that are hardly seaworthy. If people are enticed to make that journey by our poor policies then surely we are culpable if they drown on the way.

On the other hand we must have a tight security policy to ensure that we don't import criminals and terrorists into the country in the guise of compassion.

If people can afford $15,000 to pay people smugglers then they are not the most needy people in any country. What is happening to those who can't afford to pay these outrageous fees?

However, the latest round of policy that says people arriving by boat will go to PNG is just despicable. Going to PNG for processing is one thing, but throwing them there for ever with no hope of coming to Australia is an abrogation of our responsibilities. What is PNG getting out of this? They clearly have no resources for supporting thousands of immigrants.

We need to always be alert when politicians talk abut economic refugees. Our beloved Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, earlier this week described people coming from Iran as "economic refugees" because they belong to the dominant racial or religious group. Really?

Iran is one of the most oppressive regimes in the world. They not only imprison, torture and kill christians, but also Muslims of non-Shia groups, and of course people who speak against the Government.

Sri Lanka, another source of boat people, is increasingly oppressing people of the minority Tamils. While the civil war is over, there is still systemic persecution of these people.

I don't know what the solution to all of this is. It is a complex issue, but just stopping the boats as people on both sides of politics are obsessed with doing, does not really do anything for a real refugee policy.