it reduces the temptation to enter our shores without the proper medicals and papers. We cant have anyone come here illegally without going through the process like everyone else has done and still are waiting.
IT is not illegal to seek asylum, in fact you cannot seek asylum within your own country. perhaps this is one problem with the system, but then again, when your country is a war torn crap hole, it probably doesnt matter as the logistics of claiming asylum from whithin is pretty messed up. the majority of people who arrive by boat seeking asylum turn out to be legitimate refugees. It is the ones that come in by plane that mostly have their applications rejected.
Id like to know how many drownings happened under a Gillard led government vrs a Abbott one or doesn't that count either.
of course that matters. no is suggesting it doesent. also dont forget it was the rudd that overturned howards policies, which saw an obvious increase in boat arrivals due to policy change.
I guess it doesnt really make a difference to our standard of living when Abbott done what he set out to do, but if it was Gillard then it most certainly would matter. 
not sure how you came to that conclusion
I think people let their dislike for Abbott cloud their judgement, much like what i have done with Gillard at times.
thats a fair enough point, because it most definately happens. i make no secret of my dislike for abbot, but my point is this;
if the best thing you can say about a prime minister is that he achieved one thing, which is a fair way down the list of important things that actually affect his subjects' day to day lives, and he has done that by basically putting back into place what a previous government already did, is that really a great achievement?
people post on here that RFC accepts mediocrity, but when it comes to important things, like those governing our lives, we truly have come to accept mediocrity. It is a sad state of affairs when the barrackers of political parties argue not about which party is the best, but which one is the worst, and continually use the wrong doings/incompetence of one side to justify the wrong doings/incompetence of the other.
Politicians of all persuasions treat us with disdain and contempt, and collectively we probably deserve it, because we just accept it, like bleating sheep.
