DOORSTOP

23 September 2009

Subject: Asylum seeker vessel interception

O’CONNOR: Can I say it's been good to contribute to this conference. As we know there is a growing number of people seeking haven in First World countries. There are conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka, and other places around the world, and that's why increasingly people are seeking haven in First World countries, and that includes Australia.

But in terms of the scale of things, whilst I don't want to underplay the issue with respect to Australia, there is a relatively small number seeking haven here, compared with Europe, Canada and the United States.

QUESTION: It might be a small number, but it certainly seems to be increasing, especially with this latest boat load.

O’CONNOR: Look, can I say it's clear that as a result of the conflicts in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and in Iraq, we have people seeking haven in the developed world. But if you look at the statistics, last year, 333,000 people sought refugee status in Europe, 50,000 in the United States, 35,000 in Canada, and 4750 in Australia, so whilst it's an issue, it is a smaller issue here than other places around the world.

Can I say in relation to the irregular maritime arrivals, it's really important that we put all of our efforts in to prevent people getting on those boats, endangering their lives, and acting in a manner that's improper?

For that reason, the Rudd Government has dedicated sufficient resources to the Australian Federal Police, in Indonesia. Only within the last week we have had the Indonesian national police chief announce an agreement to have 145 local officers, trained by the Australian Federal Police, in 12 strategic places in Indonesia, to disrupt and dismantle wherever possible, syndicates that are involved in people smuggling.

So the Rudd Government is doing everything it can to disrupt these syndicates, it is a despicable trade, it exploits the desperation of people around the world, and we condemn it. And we continue to be vigilant, to ensure that we firstly disrupt the syndicate, secondly prosecute the people smugglers, continue to successfully intercept the boats, and have an orderly management of processing on Christmas Island.

QUESTION: It would appear that the floodgates are being opened again, John Howard shut them, and now they're opening again, every day we're getting more people coming into Australia.

O’CONNOR: Can I say in relation to arrivals, the fact is you have to look at this over the last 30 years, the largest spike in irregular maritime arrivals occurred under the previous Government.

Of course if the previous Government truly believed they had resolved this matter, then why in 2002 did they announce the construction of the Christmas Island Detention Centre. Why in 2005 did they spend $405 million of taxpayers' money, building the Christmas Island Detention Centre?

The reason they did that, can I say, is they knew then what we know now, that there'll be times as a result of conflicts around the world, where there'll be increases in people seeking haven in First World countries. And can I say in respect to that, the Rudd Government is continuing to successfully intercept the vessels, and have an orderly process, so we can identify, and ensure there's no security risks, and process these people as properly as we can?

QUESTION: You don't think it's more because the Rudd Government is seen as more sympathetic?

O’CONNOR: Look, I've heard that argument posed to me. Can I say without doubt, the primary reason why people seek haven, is because of the push factors, it's because of the conflicts that occur in their home countries, it's the result of war, civil conflict and famines.

That's the primary reason why people sought to come here in the 1970s, under the Fraser Government, it's the reason why there were thousands of people that sought to come here, and successfully came here under the Howard Government. And it's why we're seeing a number - an increase now this year - there are 42 million people in fact, 42 million people displaced around the world.

The UNHCR indicates that of that 42 million, 15 million are refugees, so these are huge numbers, and of course with respect to those that have been intercepted by our successful maritime and aerial surveillance, we're numbering around 1100 or 1200. So on the scale of the disruption around the world, this is not - I don't want to understate the matter - these are small numbers, compared to Europe, Canada, the United States.

QUESTION: You're saying that these people are displaced, however, aren't they paying about $10,000 each, just to hop on the boat?

O’CONNOR: Again, I think this makes clear that we need to continue to disrupt the syndicates that are involved in this despicable trade. What we do know is that people smugglers seek to exploit the fear and desperation of people that have been displaced in their home countries, seek to rob them of their only wealth, and what we therefore need to do is to continue to work with the Indonesian national police.

As I've said, only this week, the Indonesian national police chief has agreed to have 145 local officers in 12 strategic places, in Indonesia, to disrupt and to deter these ventures. This is as a direct result of the Rudd Government investing the resources in Indonesia, and having the Australian Federal Police train these officers, work with the international police, so we can disrupt these ventures, and prosecute the people smugglers.

In fact there's a higher level of prosecution that's occurred in the last two years, than had been the case previously.

SPEAKER: Two more questions.

QUESTION: Is Christmas Island equipped to deal with another boat load?

O’CONNOR: As I've just indicated, Christmas Island Detention Centre was constructed by the previous Government, because they were aware that there would be an occasion when that centre would be necessary.

Can I say in relation to the capacity of Christmas Island, there are now over 700 detainees in that centre, there is a capacity of 1200, and the Minister for Immigration's made clear that there are other contingencies that could be considered on that island, and that's of course what we're looking at.

But because of the pace of processing, because the Minister for Immigration has quickened the pace of processing, we're finding that to date, the capacity of Christmas Island, satisfies the needs of this country.

SPEAKER: Last question?

QUESTION: In relation to the vessel intercepted early this morning, I know it's early - very early in the event, but what, if any, added information can you give us about that? Any indication of the origin of that vessel, at this stage?

O’CONNOR: No, not at this point. Can I say - firstly can I say, this is a successful interception by our aerial and maritime surveillance teams, we prevented this vessel reaching the mainland, it will be taken to Christmas Island, where there'll be an identity, health and security check of those people. At this point we cannot confirm the origin of these passengers.

SPEAKER: Thank you very much, everyone.

O’CONNOR: Thank you.