At least this time, it looks like it will be a happy ending. And to any Americans worried about the cost to the Australian taxpayer - well, consider it a partial payback for all the times the US taxpayer has wound up bailing people out around the world. The fact is, this is what rich, industrialised nations do. At least this time we're doing it for another rich, industrialised nation. The vast majority of foreigners Australia pulls from the sea are 'asylum seekers' sailing here illegally in leaky boats.
Kudos to Australia, our staunchest allies in the Pacific. My Dad always wanted to go back there and live in Darwin. He loved everything about Australia right down to the charcoal powered jitney buses in wartime. And tough people, too.