It seems we have a new Immigration Minister, Tony Burke, oh and a new Prime Minister too. Although the PM’s more recycled than brand new, but that’s another story for another blog when the dust settles.

If Minister Burke is interested I’d like to offer him some free advice about the issue of asylum seekers coming to Australia. It’s time to face up to the fact that we’ve made a major stuff-up with recent policies. Very embarrassing Australia, girt by sea!

Number 1. Tear up the old policies and start all over again. There’s nothing like having a new opportunity to do things differently and a ‘new’ government offers such a chance.

Number 2. (Now I’m starting to sound like a certain Prime Minister!) Let’s begin by seeing the issue of asylum seekers as an opportunity, not as a problem. Compassion, rather than a political opportunity. We’re all ‘boat people’ at one time or another. My great-great-grandfather’s family were ‘boat people’ in the 1850s and we didn’t turn out too badly.

Australia has successfully integrated thousands of asylum seekers from various nations and they and their descendants have created the nation we now have. Asylum seekers, given support and opportunities, work hard to establish themselves and contribute to all aspects of public life.

I sometimes walk through the streets of Geelong, the second largest city in Victoria, and see all the vacant shops up for rent and wonder about the possibilities of supporting asylum seekers to establish businesses and new lives in such a city. Maybe the city council, with the support of government could offer cheap rents and subsidies to prospective businesses. Am I being too naïve?

Number 3. You won’t ever stop the boats. When I lived in the southern Philippines in the 1970s, I saw first-hand, families fleeing civil war. The fear of torture or death will not stop people taking risky solutions. They have nothing to lose. Maybe a few politicians should undertake the ‘go-back-to-where-you-came-from’ experience to realise the desperation involved in such situations. There are almost 20 million asylum seekers world-wide and according to the UNHCR, most fleeing to Europe and the United States. Australia relatively speaking has a small number. Just deal with them.

Number 4. Close down all off-shore and on-shore detention centres. For the number crunchers they are just too expensive. The future costs and the burden of mental health issues created by the current system are just not worth it. Give asylum seekers hope not despair. Allow for community detention, after all necessary security and health issues have been dealt with. While awaiting processing, asylum seekers could work in the community, contribute to the tax system and feel some pride in their contribution.

Number 5. What about asylum seekers waiting in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia? Over the weekend Kevin could sit down and talk to these governments and come to some sort of mutual arrangement that allowed people to be processed in situ. What’s the air force up to at the moment? I don’t think they are in Afghanistan so, being a national compassion emergency, (like any other national emergency) they could fly processed asylum seekers to Australia, instead of them being forced to trust leaky boats.

Number 6. Wash your mouth out. There’s been a lot of loose rhetoric around asylum seekers – words like ‘queue jumpers’, ‘illegals’ and ‘economic migrants.’ Words are bullets and people in high office (yes, you Bob) should avoid making political mileage out of such descriptions.

Now I’ll just have to locate Tony Burke’s email address…and join his queue of advisers.