Speaking strictly about the people on the boats I reckon it has merit . It appears (if we can trust the media) is that these people fly into Indonesia, which obviously requires a passport, get a Visa On Arrival which is basically a stamp for $25 US, burn their passports and any documentation and pay to be taken by leakey boat which gets a sympathy vote from the media and wait for the Aust navy to "rescue" them.
I used to say let 'em all in until I realised that thousands of poor b*****ds have been waiting after doing the right thing and going to the UNHCR in Malayasia and Indonesia for literally decades. Legitamate refugees who left with nothing except their clothes, rasing their kids until adulthood in camps.
How 'bout those guys rioting a few days ago and burning their camp down as Aust was deemed too slow in processing them. Send them back I reckon.