Australia has a long and proud history of assisting people fleeing war and conflict.

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The degree and type of assistance we have provided has varied considerably but we have never applied a blanket ban on helping people fleeing war and conflict.

Not until Peter Dutton.

While the precise details of his policy position are sparse - some have described it as a captain's call made with the pressure of a press microphone in his face - it does sound like he is proposing a blanket ban on entry to Australia of Palestinians fleeing the Gaza conflict.

At times, Dutton has said his ban would apply to "all arrivals from Gaza". At other times, he seems to have confined this to "refugees" from Gaza. At other times he has expressed concern about people from Gaza being granted visitor or other visas because, allegedly, not all visa applicants are being interviewed face to face.

The Coalition may still be working through the details of the blanket ban and whether there are any exceptions.

Australians are accustomed to their government assisting people fleeing war and conflict.

When Bob Hawke cried after the Tiananmen Square massacre, Australia helped tens of thousands of students who were afraid of their government.

In 1998, John Howard set up special evacuation flights for people fleeing the war in Kosovo. Those circumstances provided little opportunity for extensive security or other checking and we relied extensively on United Nations agencies.

Howard was at the airport tarmac to personally welcome the evacuees.

In late 1999, Australia helped........

© Canberra Times