Julian Burnside: If either party were promising to be cruel to animals, it would lose the election. But being cruel to asylum seekers is now a national sport in Australia, and our national character is being redefined
Julian Burnside: Not only TPVs are likely to cause more deaths at sea, they also provide a powerful incentive for refugees to use people smugglers. Is this really the Australian way?
Wendy Bacon: Images are now weapons in a communication war – and Australia's government is skilled at restricting real journalism, favouring manufactured soundbites instead
4 Aug 2013: Jessica Abrahams: Malta receives the highest number of asylum applications in the world in relation to its population. Only EU help can alleviate a growing sense of despair
Helen Razer: The left likes to congratulate itself for its humanity, but we cannot allow the Compassion Olympics to run the show when it comes to the asylum seekers debate