Yes it is Radish

Raddy,

It does cost a lot to keep the boats away. We will never know how much as the whole topic is too political.

No matter what it is expensive to contain the people smugglers and protect our borders.

There are no easy answers with mass migrations of refugees happening in many parts of the world. It is only going to get worse and more expensive over time as whole populations start to move for a variety of reasons, war, famine etc.

Our future security is none too rosey.

Take it easy.

SD

SD the navy/border patrol  are being paid no matter what they do.  So patrolling northern Australia is just part of the job I would say. :)

Raddy,

I think you will find the level of patrols and the type of vessels/aircraft used has increased in size, numbers and capability enormously over time.

It used to be relatively cheap, no more.

SD

Raddy,

Coastal surveillance is not new. I was involved with it back in the late 70s and early 80s. If anything it was more in the nature of littoral surveillance then and was not carried out too far off shore. 

What is done today and the equipment used as compared to my time bears no comparison.

They use large and expensive equipment today and that really does cost big dollars to operate.

I do not think anyone right now has any long term answers, satisfactory ones anyway, as it is all a little bit unknown where the current upsets in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsular will take us.

Take it easy.

SD