It might be time for Australians to have a public conversation. The topic ... What have we become?

"A long time ago we set the dial at brutal and we’ve kept it there. That’s hard to face. It goes against our deepest sense of ourselves. But stopping the boats is about us as well as them. The major parties, the Murdoch press and tabloid radio is urging the nation not to lose its resolve. But while a slew of inquires ask what happened on Manus it might be time for Australians to start asking: what have we become?"

It is well to remind ourselves of all the ins and outs of recent and not so recent refugees and asylum seekers policy.  The above extract comes from an article which is well to read once more.