Despite the High Court’s recent scuttling of the so-called ‘Malaysia solution’ to Australia’s perceived boat-people problem, the Gillard government still seems sunk in confusion and denial, if not outright defiance.

The court ruling was plain enough; because ‘Malaysia is not a party to the Refugees Convention or its protocol’, the human rights of people sent there cannot be assured, and thus it is against both Australian and international law to send people there against their will.