Greg Sheridan continues to make no sense on refugees (“PM is dodging hard decision on refugees”, The Australian, 7/5). He claims that the Howard policies deterred refugees by not guaranteeing residency, but under all past and present regimes, including Howard’s, the vast majority of applicants were granted asylum on their merits.

Sheridan is well aware that seeking asylum is not “illegal immigration”, and his continued use of the term is vexatious and inflammatory.