The Federal government's proposed changes to immigration law, which would see refugees who came by boat banned for life from ever entering Australia, is short sighted.
To stop people from staying in Australia due to their mode of arrival eliminates the potential for the great Australian they could become.
Just like the rest of the population of our great country, for every negative story about a refugee, you can also find an overwhelmingly positive one about an immigrant or refugee who has made a great contribution to our nation or done something selfless for others.
Take the case of Dr Munjed Al Muderis, who arrived in Australia by boat as a refugee from Iraq.
Dr Al Muderis is a surgeon and the only surgeon in the country capable of performing life changing Osseointregation surgery -- a surgery which provides leg amputees with greater mobility, comfort and quality of life.
Or the recent example of the heroic efforts of former refugee Aguek Nyok, who saved 11 lives in the Moorooka bus tragedy by kicking in a back door of a bus to allow passengers to escape a fire attack that killed their driver.
The list of former refugees or immigrants who have made huge contributions to Australia, whether they arrived by boats or other means is large, from businessman Frank Lowy, comedian Anh Do, 1998 Young Australian of the Year Tan Le, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, AFL footballer Majak Daw and many more.
To deny any asylum seeker the chance to become one of these successful Australians is to deny our nation the chance at adding another great citizen to our population.
Surely the millions of dollars spent on stopping the boats and keeping refugees in indefinite detention could be better spent processing legitimate refugees and helping them become integrated and successful members of our community.
The question must also be asked whether the announcement of the proposed bill has more to do with Malcolm Turnbull's flagging popularity in the polls than it does sending a message to people smugglers as the government claims.
