Below is a response from the Federal Member for Herbert, Mr. Ewen Jones. 

Chris,

Sorry for the delay. 

I am in favour of stopping the boats. If we do that, indefinite detention is not needed. We need to get our relationship with Indonesia repaired so that we can stop this at the source. 

But when you tale the food off their tables without so much as a phone call, you simply cannot expect them to be all that helpful.

Mandatory Detention is a necessary evil to play its part in deterring these people from taking a little boat, overloading it with women and children who cannot swim, and setting sail under the command of a 16 year old. That is what we have to stop.

I don’t think anyone in public office can say they like indefinite detention. But when you are spending billions and the flood does not stem, the Government of the day must act. That they broke a working model is a side issue.

Ewen