Asylum seekers are creating headlines worldwide, as thousands flee troubled nations hoping for a better life. The Tamil refugees intercepted in Indonesian this week ended their hunger strike yesterday - but are refusing to leave their boat. And the Australian navy is on standby to help rescue two more boats in distress in Indonesian waters, possibly loaded with 270 asylum seekers.  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has responded to the situation by condemning the act of people smuggling. He's also said to be in talks with Jakarta seeking a new strategy to stop refugee boats from travelling through Indonesian waters to Australia. But is his response too simplistic? Bruce Haigh is a former diplomat who has dealt with refugee issues for nearly 40 years, and has served on the Refugee Review Tribunal. He spoke to us this week about the issue of refugees.

Let's hear your thoughts on the topic.

• What are your thoughts on Australia's current policy and the Federal Government's moves to try and stop boats coming through Indonesian waters to Australia?
 
• Do you share Kevin Rudd's view that the people smugglers operating these boats are the problem?

• Or do agree with Bruce Haigh, who has just said that they're not to blame - they're only an indication of how desperate people have become, and punishing them isn't really a solution.
 
• Are you worried like the Opposition is, that we're sending the wrong message to other nations by being more accepting of asylum seekers under our new government?

• Reports are showing that refugees are seeking asylum in nations all around the world, (eg in todays news we read that Iraq has barred entry to a group of Iraqi asylum seekers that were sent back to Baghdad by the British government. Britain is now holding them in an immigration detention centre. ... and More than 40,000 Iraqis lodged applications for asylum in the West last year.). Many are saying that this proves the increasing numbers of arrivals in Australia is nothing to do with how relaxed Australia's policy is or isn't - rather just a symptom of increasing global unrest. What do you think?

• If you've worked in some capacity with refugees - perhaps as a volunteer with a support group, visiting people in detention centres - I'd love to hear from you. From what you've learnt from their stories, what do you think Australia's policy should be?

* If you were a refugee, I'd love to hear your story too.