UPDATE: Following this Media Watch investigation, on 25th October, Today Tonight aired a clarification. Right click to download file.

With the government's policy in chaos, a hundred and thirty-eight more asylum-seekers arrived at Christmas island over the weekend. But why is it such a huge political issue?

Partly, at least, because many Australians believe that boat-people are being treated far too generously.

If you've just watched Sarah Ferguson's 4 Corners report on the effects of detention, you might find that hard to believe. But far more people watch Seven's Today Tonight. And get a very different picture.

According to TT, asylum-seekers and refugees live in luxury, costing the taxpayer squillions. Two weeks ago, they served up this:

Kylie Gillies: First tonight our investigation into how the Government is putting out the welcome mat for refugees. We've gone inside the so called 'refugee resort' where there's no wire fencing, no bars, and the inmates live in four star luxury... — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

See that? $400 a week. What was that figure based on? We aren't told. But later in the report, we'll see this:

Secret camera: how much do you get? Refugee: Same as all the people. About $400. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

We've talked to that person. We've has blurred his face. Today Tonight didn't. As we'll see later, he has good reasons not to want to be identified. But he told us:

I was talking about Centrelink payment. I get $400 a fortnight . — Mohammed, Statement to Media Watch, 21st October, 2011

A fortnight. Not a week. Today Tonight have now told us that the graphic was

An error in the editing. — Craig McPherson, Executive Producer, Today Tonight, 17th October, 2011

In the editing? Pull the other one. As we'll see later, one of your interviewees says the false information was given to her too.

David Ecclestone's report supposedly dealt with how asylum-seekers and refugees are treated. Yet it barely mentioned the detention centres where most unauthorised arrivals are locked up for months and years. Instead, we got this:

Voice: this is a two-bedroom apartment David Ecclestone: Today Tonight has found asylum seekers being put up in a four star hotel like this one, awaiting judgment on their immigration status. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

Today Tonight 'found asylum seekers' at the Virginia Palms Motel in Brisbane last year.

It hasn't been used to house them since June this year. No motels are currently being used as detention centres anywhere in Australia...

Which isn't to say that they won't be soon, now that the Malaysia solution has collapsed. The Department of Immigration's Sandi Logan told us...

A place of alternative detention is selected based on what is readily available, readily accessible and suits the department's needs at the time for long-term accommodation for families and unaccompanied minors. — Sandi Logan, Department of Immigration, 14th October, 2011

It's all about families with kids. It's not about luxury. But on with the show...

David Ecclestone: they even have a Facebook page. What better way to spread the word of the land of plenty to those back home? — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

Like the motel footage, this is old stuff. When Today Tonight showed that refugee's Facebook page, in July last year, we got in touch with him.

We've concealed his identity. Today Tonight did not.

He told us that the photos on the beach at the Gold Coast were taken during an excursion while he was in detention. But most were not...

David Ecclestone: Others are taken to Sydney Olympic Park, Luna Park, and the Melbourne Aquarium. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

Those pictures of him, said the owner of the Facebook page, were taken

when i realesed from detention. like sydney olympic park and aroun opera house. — Email to Media Watch, 8 July, 2010

Today Tonight has told Media Watch that its

contacts in the immigration department ... maintain they were all taken while in detention. — Craig McPherson, Executive Producer, Today Tonight, 17th October, 2011

As if 'contacts in immigration' would know better than the subject of the photographs.

But the most damaging misinformation was still to come.

David Ecclestone: The Australian government don't want you to know the locations of their makeshift detention centres. Manned by 24hour security, they're in permanent lockdown. Secret camera: I didn't tell you but they're those refugees. Ohh right, from? Boat people. Reporter: But we spoke to them. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

Really David? I seriously doubt it. That mysterious figure was filmed outside the Virginia Palms Motel last year. The interview was first broadcast in July 2010.

Secret camera: I didn't tell you but they're those refugees. Ohh right, from? Boat people. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 7th July, 2010

As we said, that motel no longer houses asylum-seekers. But this man was filmed in the last month or so, in an entirely different location in Brisbane

Secret camera: Are you a refugee are you? Refugee: I came to Australia by boat yes. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

He is not in detention at all. He's been accepted as a genuine refugee, given a permanent visa, and is free to live wherever he can find a place he can afford.

How do we know? We tracked him down. He told us...

I was sitting outside the place where I live waiting for a friend and I was approached by a man. He said he was waiting for a taxi. He did not tell me he was a reporter. ...He asked me 'are you a refugee and how long have you been in this country'? I told him I am from Iran — 'Mohammed', 21st October, 2011

So the man was being secretly filmed and recorded by a Today Tonight producer - in any other state than Queensland, that would be illegal.

He says he wasn't told he was talking to a journalist. That would be against the journalists' code of ethics.

Then his face was shown on national television, without his permission. That is grossly irresponsible.

It is not right for them to put me on television and show my face because it could cause a problem with the Government in my country in Iran. ... When I was in Iran I was shot in my chest, a bullet went in my chest ...I am very scared and am worried for my family. — Mohammed, 21st October, 2011

Today Tonight's Executive Producer, Craig McPherson, assured us...

Naturally we don't want to put anyone's safety in jeopardy. — Craig McPherson, Executive Producer, Today Tonight, 17th October, 2011

Really Craig? Then how about asking them before you put their faces on the screen? Or are you too busy showing what a luxurious life they lead?

Voice: how much do you get? Refugee: Same as all the people. About $400. Voice: Have you been here for long? How long? Refugee: 5 months. It's not too bad. But it could be better. Margaret Thomas: Pensioners would be disgusted if they knew. I'm sure they don't know what's going on with all these boat people and what this government's giving them. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

Hullo? That refugee actually gets a bit over two hundred and forty dollars a week Newstart allowance and just under sixty dollars a week rental allowance - normal benefits available through Centrelink to any Australian resident. Almost half his total income goes in rent.

I pay $140 a week for a room. We have shared bathroom, shared kitchen and shared toilet. There are 14 other refugees living on the same floor. — Mahommed, 21st October, 2011

The lap of luxury, eh?

But Today Tonight's entire report was aimed at fuelling the myth that refugees are given extraordinary treatment.

Margaret Thomas: Well what have they contributed to our country? Nothing. And they're giving them more money than we get. — Channel Seven, Today Tonight, 10th October, 2011

And where did Margaret Thomas get that idea? Well, she says, from Today Tonight. She told us that the reporter had ...

...showed me on his phone the video of that bloke saying he got $400 a week. Now that just got me very angry. ... I didn't know he was getting $400 a fortnight. I think that's very sad and Channel 7 should not do that...I would have preferred to have been told the truth — Margaret Thomas, 15th October, 2011

Gee, so would we.

Here's the truth. Asylum-seekers in detention get no cash benefits. Once given visas, refugees, whether or not they arrived by boat, get the same Centrelink benefits as everyone else.

Is it surprising that so many people are concerned about boat people, when they're fed inflammatory nonsense like this by one of the most popular programs in Australia?