PRIME Minister Tony Abbott must not be allowed to play one of his destructive doublespeak games when it comes to the refugee crisis.
He must not be allowed to get away with telling the Australian people that his Government will increase the number of refugees from Syria, while at the same time, reducing our refugee intake numbers from elsewhere (C-M, Sep 8).
We must increase our total refugee intake. 
This crisis is real. These are real people, courageous and desperate, who are fleeing war-torn lands looking for a place of safety.
Australians must ensure that we open our doors and our hearts and welcome thousands of these people.
We must insist that the Government does the right thing and increases the total intake of refugees to Australia so we do our share to alleviate this human suffering.
Eileen MacManus, Brighton
TONY Abbott says he will give a helping hand to the refugees flooding into Europe.
While Australia is refining the number of those we will accept, I would suggest we take only the most persecuted people, namely the various Christian minorities persecuted by both ISIS and the Muslim majorities.
Tony Miles, Chermside
FIVE years ago, when negotiating with Independent Andrew Wilkie for his vote to form a Coalition government, Tony Abbott tempted him with a refugee intake of 28,000 a year.
Then in government, Abbott slashed Labor's Humanitarian Program from 20,000 to 13,750 a year.
Please return to the plan of resettling 28,000 a year. It may restore some national pride for decency and generosity at a time of a global refugee crisis.
Frederika E. Steen, Chapel Hill
I CANNOT imagine the entrenched fear in the hearts and minds of Syrian asylum seekers after suffering so much at the hands of ISIS.
But I can imagine the importance of loving my family and needing the emotional validation that they will always be safe and happy.
When the flight-or-fight syndrome kicks in and you decide to flee your homeland, you do so with the clear intention of not just surviving but with the courageous idea of settling in a new country with the hope of starting a new life. The hope is that this new life captures the traditions and customs of your cultural heritage, while honouring and respecting the spirit of your adopted homeland.
Being an international citizen equates to not understanding the concept of borders. Being a humanitarian means to be compassionate without needing a reason.
I wish the Federal Government would cultivate the resolve to absorb as many Syrian refugees as possible into our communities.
Ashley Bell, Wilston
OBVIOUSLY what is happening in war-torn countries is a tragedy but how far can Australia go to help?
The Greens want to take in another 40,000 but they don't like mining, logging or land clearing. So where are these people going to work?
Our unemployment is already high, we have massive government debt and a slowing economy. Where is the money going to come from to support these people?
  Maybe all the people chanting "open our hearts, open our homes" will open their wallets.
Brian Murray, Deagon
PERHAPS those who believe that Australia is not doing enough to assist the refugees should give some real thought as to how they will be managed and assimilated into Australian society.
It's one thing becoming emotional about their plight as refugees, regardless of where they are eventually settled but, in the long term, the Australian Government must have a strategy for these refugees in terms of where they will be located and what contribution they will make to this country. Otherwise, this will just be another "good idea at the time" which future generations and governments will have to live with and support financially.
Mike Hand, East Brisbane WHY do the refugees of the world always turn to the West for aid, and not their fellow believers?
They will be resettled in tight communities in Western countries, alien to their customs, religion and historical beliefs, thus setting the stage for future discontent which will be exploited by the small minority who thrive on such scenarios.
It's time for the oil-rich Middle East to step up before the West, which is in serious decline, collapses under its own idealism.
The greatest threat to democracy is democracy, as any subversive will verify. Ken Maher, Manly
ALL the migrants from Syria should be rehoused in a UN camp in Africa where the many young, fit men can be trained to fight and then go back to defeat ISIS.
Running away to an affluent Western country solves nothing.
Tony Watson, Regency Downs
IF A nation does not have strong border security, it has nothing. Australia may have good health, education, welfare and retirement systems, relative to world standards, but they are already under threat from slowing economic growth and increasing national debt. Our immigration policies must be controlled and balanced otherwise these hard-earned benefits will be lost.Ron Lawton, Robina