But the blame doesn't belong to the navy. SIEV221 would never have set sail if not for the Rudd government's needless meddling with Howard-era policies which had worked effectively since late 2001 to stop the boats, deprive people-smugglers of business and prevent such loss of life. The tragedy was inevitable the moment those policies were dismantled.

So determined were the Howard-haters to demonise their nemesis they became blind to the humanitarian benefits of his difficult decisions.