By all means be nice to boat people. But let's also respect the facts Writer Susan Metcalfe in The Age: Refugees have arrived in Australia by boat for years. Most are now contributing citizens, grateful just to be here, in spite of how we have treated them. A Department of Immigration survey of refugees: Around 85% of Humanitarian entrants" households are in receipt of Centrelink payments, while around 28% of Skilled migrants" households make use of Centrelink payments... Happy to have a debate on whether we should be more welcoming of boat people. But I have no tolerance for articles in which fine feelings are substituted for facts.