You are using Australia as an example of a country that has a good immigration system; as one that has handled "illegal immigration" better than us. You are proposing solutions that they have adopted as being applicable to us. Their being an island allows them to police their seas to stop the "boat people". We too are an island, but we cannot use the same solution. We don't often have boats trying to make it to shore. We don't even have vast numbers entering via the ferry and train terminals (hence why there are 5,000 in Calais, not Britain). The AUS solution might work in Italy/Greece etc, but it won't work here. As I've already stated, the solution will have to be handled EU wide. That will mean taking our fair share. They only alternative is withdrawing from the EU and isolating ourselves from our neighbours.
The point about population/space is simple. Comparing land mass between countries and saying "we don't have space" is a poor argument. It doesn't reflect habitable land, population centres, availability of modern infrastructure etc. Further, our population density isn't even significantly higher than other European countries (and certainly not other countries worldwide), being broadly similar to Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland etc. The point is, are our towns and cities as capable of supporting immigrants as any other country? I'd say they should be. Has our Government adequately responded to rising populations? Clearly not.
Now, to break down the only solutions you have proposed:
--- "Create an 'identity' card along the lines of a Tesco Club card, NO-ONE is forced to carry it but, possession brings benefits e.g.,: discounts, promotions, fast access to venues, etc., etc.. Anyone not carrying the card will have to prove identity to relevant authorities in some other way, no matter how long that takes. Job applications will be 'delayed' while identity is being sought, non-urgent hospital/doctor treatment will depend on proof of identity, access to schools for you children will, obviously, take longer if you aren't able to produce card or passport etc.. And so on...." ---
We're already doing this, just without the need for an ID card. It doesn't stop illegal immigration because the people are already here. It doesn't even really help to catch them. Illegal immigrants operate outside of the system along with those that employ them.
--- "Expel those who are caught being 'illegal immigrants'. (Currently we just cat5ch and release THOUSANDS a year)." ---
Yes, that is what we should be doing. But it doesn't say how you will catch them, nor does it say how you might stop them entering in the first place.
They're the only things you have said (that I can find) that deal with stopping them getting here in the first place or catching them when they do.
There are really only two viable approaches to immigration in the UK. You either withdraw from the EU and have stringent checks at all borders, or you work with the EU to have stringent checks at all outer borders (harder than AUS because of the size and nature of the borders) and take our fair share of immigrants. Even then, that only helps catch the small number of people trying to "sneak" into the country. It doesn't deal with the vast majority of cases, which is people entering the country legally and not leaving.
My major point is that we're not some special case. Our immigration rates are typical of other countries, our illegal immigration rates are typical of other countries, our welfare bill is typical of other countries, our population density is similar to other EU countries. Yet we're the 5th largest economy in the world. Immigration isn't the major issue it's made out to be. Yes, we should have better control of our borders, but that won't make the problem go away.
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