"torture guy" wants to stop the boats

An interesting article in The Australian today from Mirko Bagaric click here suggesting that Australia double its refugee intake, but in return  "deny refugee eligibility to people who arrive in Australia without pre-existing refugee status". While I'll give him credit for at least coming up with some fresh ideas on the mouth frothing topic of asylum seekers, his plan is in essence unworkable, as he himself admits that it "technically" breaches Australia's ratification of the UN Convention on refugees. He can try all he likes to skate past or downplay this point, but the law is the law, and enlightened Governments have a non negotiable obligation to uphold them. But it's probably not a surprise that he thinks the law is "flexible", after all this is the same guy who supports US torture of terror suspects click here.