Last Friday morning, ABC Sydney's Deborah Cameron was chatting about the campaign so far to veteran Liberal strategist Grahame Morris:

Deborah Cameron: Why is it that we are being led towards our fears in this campaign instead of towards our dreams? Grahame Morris: You should have a talk to your own colleagues Deborah. The agenda, a lot of the agenda is set by the media... — ABC Radio 702, Mornings with Deborah Cameron, 6th August, 2010

Well, it's easy to blame the messenger. But there are some areas where the politicians are reacting to problems that the media have helped to turn from molehills into mountains.

Like, for example, boat people.

Why does a nation of immigrants get so upset over a few hundred, or even a few thousand, unauthorised boat arrivals?

It seems it's a mixture of fear, and resentment.

The fear is partly aroused by headlines like this:

INVASION Up to 800 asylum seekers could arrive in Australian waters during the election campaign, with the navy bracing itself for an influx of up to 12 illegal boats. — The Daily Telegraph, 24th July, 2010

Read the full article published by The Daily Telegraph

Up to twelve illegal boats! We'll be over-run! Swamped! Blitzed!

When the media says 'up to', watch out.

By page 6, 'up to 800 asylum seekers' had become...

...an election influx of 8 to 12 illegal boats carrying between 300 and 800 passengers. — The Daily Telegraph, 24th July, 2010

Or 'illegal Centrelink-seekers', as 4BC's Michael Smith in Brisbane likes to call them. He's one of the many who fan resentment of asylum-seekers, however they arrive.

They're all queue-jumpers, of course; and as soon as they're accepted as refugees, they'll be jumping another queue.

Michael Smith: Now they go straight to the front of queue for very best in accommodation in this country at a time when Australians are homeless. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

Smith had got hold of a report about homelessness.

It showed that most Australian families who ask for emergency accommodation can't be immediately housed.

Michael Smith: 80 per cent of couples with children are turned away. This is a shocking indictment on us. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

Well, Smith's right. It is a shocking statistic.

By contrast, he went on...

Michael Smith: But asylum seeker, Johnny or Mohammed come-lately who fronts up on the boat - front of the queue. The government's laid out the red carpet for asylum seekers. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

Not only do they get VIP treatment in detention on Christmas Island and elsewhere, but...

Michael Smith: Then when they graduate they go straight to the front of the queue for government funded housing, they get the highest priority there. 13,500 every year. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

Now that is just arrant nonsense.

For starters, where does that figure 13,500 come from? It's got nothing to do with boat people, or asylum-seekers.

It's the total number of people granted refugee and humanitarian visas each year - the vast majority of whom have been waiting in the so-called queue for years.

And when they get here, refugees get no special access to public housing, in fact most end up in the private rental market. And they get no special Centrelink payments either.

The only shred of truth in Smith's claim is that, when refugees first arrive, or are released from detention, the Commonwealth does...

...arrange and pay for short-term accommodation, generally for a period of 4-6 weeks. It is always in private accommodation such as homes, apartments, motel rooms... — Response from Sandi Logan (Dept of Immigration and Citizenship) to Media Watch, 29th July, 2010

Read the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's response to Media Watch's questions

Well, Australian families looking for emergency housing would no doubt be grateful for 4 to 6 weeks free accommodation.

But it's just inflammatory and untrue to say of asylum-seekers and their families that:

Michael Smith: When they graduate from the accommodation I've just spoken about, they go straight to the top of the queue for public housing. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

Yet Smith said it over and over again.

No wonder his listeners were infuriated...

Caller Jane: I'm just so angry, could kick my door out... Caller June: Smithy, I am so angry, heart's pounding as soon as I heard you say how many people... with houses 'n' everything. I just, I'm ropeable and I'm a very quietly calm person. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

What made Smithy's heart pound was when Media Watch asked him to justify his nonsense.

Michael Smith: Why does Media Watch exist? Why do they spend our taxes with crap like that?... Who do you care about, Media Watch? Australian people? Or Johnny-come-lately who arrives by boat? Where are your priorities? And our taxes are funding you. — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 28th July, 2010

Smithy, our job - a rather hopeless one, I agree - is to try to shame people like you into telling your listeners something approaching the truth.

You had a perfectly good point to make: if you'd asked why, when the Commonwealth can fund short-term accommodation for refugees, it and state governments can't fund emergency housing for Australian families in need, we wouldn't have had a word to say.

But to claim that refugees...

Michael Smith: ...go straight to the front of the queue for government funded housing, they get the highest priority there. 13,500 every year... — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 21st July, 2010

...is simply to perpetuate a divisive myth.