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Wait For the Chorus of Finger-Pointing Bleaters

Well, dear readers, it has finally happened. We have finally learnt of a tragedy where more than 350 people, heading illegally for Australia, died when their vessel sank.

Overcrowded, unseaworthy and in rough seas, the vessel was capsized and all but some 40 people on board drowned.

It is terrible, but one would expect they knew - and accepted - the potential risk when they paid their money to people smugglers to get them to Australia.

To tell you the truth, having heard that scores of children were killed, I am gobsmacked that any parent would put their young ones at such appalling risk.

The people smugglers couldn't care how many die and the only way to deal with them is to make sure they can't get crews. Any crew of a people-smuggling vessel should get a few warning shots over their bows and if they ignore the subtlety they should be stopped, boarded and summarily executed. I'll volunteer.

The vessel was made for 150 passengers. Not 400 plus. Surely they could have seen that it wasn't safe.

And, knowing the state of many boats up in Indonesian waters, you wouldn't catch this old fellow hopping on board even for a quick trip across a harbour, let alone on a sea voyage.

Now you can hear the mouth-brakes squeaking and squealing among bleeding-heart commentators who are just itching to say: "We told you so. This was going to happen and it's all the Government's fault for being so mean to anyone, from anywhere, who just wants to visit our lovely land."

Listen to the ABC and you'll hear what I mean.

Already Big Kim Beazley has virtually blamed the Government, although it seems he did a pretty damn quick Canberra-two-step to belatedly take the insinuation back. If I were your political adviser Kimbo, I'd have told you it was a very bad move - particularly after you made the election seemingly more interesting over the past week.

Big Kim reckons that if we have an agreement with Indonesia (yes, the bloody Indons again) they - being so warm-hearted towards Australia - would happily stop people smugglers and illegal immigrants from heading our way.

Hello? Earth to Big Kim? Are you nuts? Ever hear of corruption?

Now while we would not dream of suggesting that Indonesian officials take money from almost anyone to do almost anything - well, actually, yes we will. They are corrupt, take bribes, and couldn't give a rat's arse about what happens once they've pocketed the money.

Big Kim, the boat sank in Indonesian waters. It was crewed by Indonesians. They left from Indonesia. It was an Indonesian boat (if you could actually call it that). If you can tell me where there is one little bit of Australian involvement in the tragedy, please do so.

I know an election is on, but let's at least try to keep a bit of sanity.

Let's stick to something all politicians agree on - let's put forward a policy giving our Canberra wafflers a huge pay rise (and don't they deserve it), double their superannuation (there goes the $500million surplus) and make food and grog free for every one of our marvellous MPs.

Only two-and-a-bit more weeks to go, fellow voters.

If there is something that has really got up your nose, let Grumpy Old Coot know at grumpy@webwombat.com