As I approached the counter to place my order, I noticed a neat, smartly dressed young girl aged 10-11 who turned to me and said, “You can go first”, to which I replied, “You are a young lady and ladies go first.”

She insisted, so I did. I said, “Your granddad must love you very much.” Her reply threw me when she said., “I do not see my grandfather. I am a foster child.”

I said, “If I could be your granddad, I would be.” She smiled and walked away towards her carers and I saw a self-assured young woman-to-be.

As a father of four, grandfather of eight and great grandfather of two, I was emotionally moved by the encounter, reinforced by the strength of my family unit.

Some aspects of fostering may be viewed negatively but my observation was positive.

The police arrest offenders and put them before the courts for determination.

This at times lengthy process results in Judges and Magistrates imposing jail sentences as per sentencing guidelines. 

The issues that most affect us is the argument that the sentences imposed for whatever reason is at times seen as inadequate or too soft. This is simply the Judge's assessment of the level of punishment required based upon the severity of the offence committed.

Separation of powers between the judiciary and the politicians must be maintained in order to allow the independence of the judiciary to function. The system is fine, it is simply when a sequence of sentences when imposed are seen to be far too soft and outside supposed community expectations. 

Similar with the granting of bail issues, when police are frustrated when offenders are at times granted repeated bail for various offences and at times similar of a nature. The issue again is offence interpretation and risk assessment to the community. This is my broad overview of the current bail and parole systems that at times confuses both police, victims and the general public.

Mandatory sentencing is an option but is most resisted by the courts because it is seen as taking away the discretion of the judiciary when sentencing.

They're people just like us - asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.  Except they're separated from caring, humane contact with us, people just like them.

We must provide safe settlement for everyone detained on Manus Island and Nauru - in America, another safe country, or Australia.  Repeatedly, we've witnessed violence between PNG citizens and asylum seekers on Manus Island where we sent them; medical care on Manus Island and Nauru are inappropriate and insufficient for their physical and mental issues.

Thus, there's *no* good reason not to bring refugees from Manus Island and Nauru to Australia.  Based on testimony from MPs and communities themselves, there are many excellent reasons to sponsor and embrace refugees.

Today (7 June) is a day of advocacy for these asylum seekers. I rang my MP and Senators, and Opposition Leader Shorten, Shadow Immigration Minister Neumann, PM Turnbull, and Immigration Minister Dutton. Each office willingly took a message ... except one:  "The Minister has made it very clear ... nobody from Manus Island or Nauru will be resettled here ... the Minister has made it clear ... "  [staff to Immigration Minister Dutton]

To Dutton and staff:  Love overcomes hate; respect supplants fear. They're people just like us, the asylum seekers.  Let's welcome them to our home; let's treat them just like us, like we would want them to treat people like us.