Is Oz govt soft on border control?

Yesterday's petrol explosion on the fishing trawler carrying 47 people to Australian shores has triggered allegations here of sabotage and refuelled the debate about the government's alleged "soft" line towards the people-smuggling business.

As victims were being flown in this morning by rescue aircraft to hospitals in Darwin, Broome and Perth in

Western Australia, the toll was expected to rise well over the three earlier confirmed dead, two missing and 30 badly injured with burns or head injuries.

The drama began at 6.15 am yesterday when the boat, said to be carrying mostly Afghan asylum-seeking passengers and two crew members, was intercepted by the navy off Ashmore Reef a day earlier, erupted into flames, leaving three dead and dozens injured.

No women or children were on board the vessel.

At a time when there has been a general increase in illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers around the world (notably from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia), Australia's Rudd government has been perceived as softening border controls, which have allegedly acted as a magnet for illegal immigrants.

The Opposition blames the closure last September of the "Pacific solution" detention centres in Nauru and Manus Island and the abolition of temporary protection visas for sending the wrong message to people smugglers.

On the other hand, there is a strong body of opinion in Australia that the country must, nonetheless, provide asylum to genuine refugees, such as those from among the hundreds making the long journey from the hell that is Afghanistan to Indonesia to attempt the dangerous sea journey to Australia.

Also, there is growing concern that those engaged in the business of people-smuggling into Australia are exacerbating the disturbing surge, with its attendant problems, in the numbers seeking asylum or refugee status.

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