Australia cannot work outside law when dealing with asylum seekers Immigration Minister Peter Dutton must respect the law.
As an ex-policeman, Peter Dutton should be aware of the rule of law. The law is the law is the law: it is what makes our democracy a democracy. In theory, no one is above the law; that includes the government.
The Amnesty report By Hook or by Crook: Australia's Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea is an evidence-based analysis of a crime. It is not bullying advocacy. Amnesty has an excellent worldwide reputation for honest research and telling the truth as a means of combating repressive regimes. 
Australia can have a policy to deter asylum seekers, but it must work within the rule of law. The problem with secrecy over transparency is that things do leak, the pressure builds up and eventually the scandal explodes in a way that is much worse than if it were not covered up.
It appears to me that the Australian government, in one way or another, is guilty of a crime at sea under international law. The Australian government is also complicit in covering up rape, murder and the abuse of children in facilities under its charge.
The secrecy has to go and the government needs to take responsibility for its actions.
Dr Tony Stewart, Hughes Meddling dangerous Jack Waterford's excellent article ("Abbott speech dampens nation's standing", Forum,   October 31, p1) challenges Tony Abbott to accept that it was the poorly thought-out intervention by the West in Syria and Iraq that has led directly to many thousands of the region's population now searching for a safer country.
Sadly, Abbott seems to be on a different planet, as he continues to argue Western intervention should be intensified.
Has he given any thought to the consequences of such a move, which would undoubtedly lead to even more people knocking on the doors of European countries?
And if it were left to Abbott, these people would end up with no country, and the Islamic State would emerge as the winner - again.
Sam Nona, Burradoo, NSW Noting its damaging consequences for our national standing, Jack Waterford has taken Tony Abbott to task for his "refugee speech" to a group of British Tories in London last week. In doing so, Waterford has pointed to Abbott's long record in support of ill-advised Middle East policies that are widely considered to have vastly exacerbated the relevant crises, including the many- faceted refugee problem itself.
The same may be said of intensifying Islamist fanaticism, including especially the rise of the IS movement in war-torn Iraq and Syria.
Equally damaging to our national standing is ex-PM Abbott's active campaign over many years directed to sabotaging Australia's fair contribution to the global mitigation of human-caused climate change.
Consequent scaling up of environmental refugees is widely predicted as just one potential consequence of dangerous climate change over the coming decades.
Indeed, very severe drought and high global food prices in the context of the "Arab Spring" has been implicated amongst the multiple causes of the civil war and human catastrophe in Syria itself.
Barry Naughten, Farrer Abbott has a point The hysteria by Abbott haters over his speech in London, warning of the dangers of unrestrained immigration was typically unhinged.
Having read his unremarkable words, I find it astonishing that the thrust of his sentiments are not accepted wisdom.
How could any sensible person support German Chancellor Angela Merkel's call to all comers? And, as Abbott remarked, how could you blame anyone for accepting such a generous invitation to arguably the richest welfare state on earth?
Merkel's folly has created a torrent of people who have precious little in common with, or tolerance of, European Judaeo- Christian values.
Most of these people, who would never be considered genuine refugees, are now flowing into countries that want no part of Merkel's distorted altruism and the cracks are starting to show.
Spikes in anti-immigration demonstrations, violence towards and within the hordes of migrants, and growing resentment against healthy young men demanding unearned welfare has created a poisoned brew of potential social disharmony that will be very difficult to overcome.
Tony Abbott had the strength of character to bell the cat and Western democracies would do well to heed the warning.
H. Ronald, Jerrabomberra, NSW Quit bashing ex-PMs In recent times, I have become weary of the tiresome haranguing against Tony Abbott and even against John Howard.
A recent letter referred to Tony Abbott as reminding them of Adolf Hitler, which was not only in poor taste but a reflection on the author.
I am not sure if all such letter writers are actually aware that Abbott and Howard are no longer prime minister, have no further power in political decision making and neither are remotely ever likely to return to such heights in political terms.
This type of continual verbiage is also a reflection on the standard of thinking of such authors.
Perhaps all of them could get together somewhere, build a bridge and get over it.
G.W.Potts, Holder A lesson in theology In response to Murray Upton, it might be interesting to examine who actually controls the world through the lens of Christian theology.
According to theology, the cause of all the suffering in the world is revealed in the story of when Jesus was tested in the desert for 40 days by the devil.
During this time, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to him if Jesus would bow down and worship him.
Now, if the devil didn't own the kingdoms of the world, he wouldn't be able to offer them to Jesus, hence the belief that Christians are awaiting the Kingdom of God on earth to set things right. Regardless of whether one believes in Christianity or not, that's the theory anyway.
The other argument may well be that Murray Upton is right and the world is a mere cosmic coincidence; whichever option is truly up to the belief of the individual.
Tom Quinlan, Gordon