This week the government announced significant changes to Australia’s immigration policy.

Immigration minister Chris Evans says he “rejects the notion that dehumanising and punishing unauthorised arrivals with long-term detention is an effective or civilised response.”

As such, unauthorised arrivals will now be allowed to live in communities as their claims are processed, rather than be placed in detention. Mr Evans says the detention of unlawful arrivals should be the last option, rather that the first option – and that they will be detained, only if they are deemed a security risk.

What do you think about this shift? Is it about time? Do you think it’s taken too long for this to happen? Are you ashamed that thousands of people – who were later found to be genuine refugees – have been locked up in detention centres across Australia unnecessarily? Should these changes have been introduced much much earlier?

Mr Evans says “"Enormous damage has been done to our international reputation." Do you think this new policy will change that?

On the other hand, are you concerned, that national security could in some way be compromised through this new policy?