It has become clear in the past 24 hours that the opposition has no intention of working with the government on the asylum seeker issue.
On the radio this morning Tony Abbott wouldn't agree to talk to the PM unless she agreed to every opposition demand in advance, to the growing shame of a number of his backbenchers. And Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison on last night's ABC 7:30 wouldn't commit to supporting the opposition's own policies if it is the government that introduces them.
But it isn't just the Coalition that's intractable. On the other end of the spectrum, the Greens are also steadfast in their opposition to the government, insisting on onshore processing.
The temperature is rising again, asylum seekers will lose their lives, and the government is in a wretched hole. But they at least are trying to dig themselves out.