Minister for Home Affairs

TRANSCRIPT OF DOORSTOP: 4 TREASURY PLACE, EAST MELBOURNE

2 November 2009

Subject: Vessel in distress 350 nm from Cocos Island

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: I'll kick off then. Everyone ready to go?

Late last night the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was informed by two foreign vessels at a location 350 nautical miles northwest of Cocos Island that a vessel was sinking.

This started as a distress call that had occurred early yesterday morning when the Australian Safety Maritime Authority received a distress signal. As a result of that distress signal, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority sought to locate that particular vessel and also requested that all vessels within a 12 hour area go to the rescue of that particular vessel.

As a result of that signal, and as a result of the request by Australian Safety Authority, the two commercial vessels, one a fishing vessel and another, a liquid natural gas tanker, went to the aid of the vessel in question.

Late last night, as confirmed, the vessel in question sunk. Initial indications were that approximately 40 people were on board and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority continued to coordinate the search and rescue effort by these two foreign commercial vessels.

I can indicate as recently as just some minutes ago, another person was rescued on the LNG Pioneer. That now accounts for 19 of the passengers that were on the vessel that has sunk. I can also confirm that the RAAF P-3 aircraft that went to the assistance of this vessel and those passengers, has spotted two people in water and has provided - has effectively dropped an inflatable raft to those two people currently in the water. And the two commercial vessels continue to provide assistance to the passengers at this present moment.

There are, of course, grave concerns for passengers that are yet recovered and the Australian Safety Authority, in conjunction with these two foreign commercial vessels, and also in conjunction with the RAAF P-3 aircraft and also the Dash 8 which we've sent from Broome, will do everything we possibly can to recover all passengers.

QUESTION: Can you confirm that these people are asylum seekers and tell us what information you have about where they're from?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: At this point we cannot determine the vessel, the purpose for the voyage, or, indeed, the particulars on these passengers that have been recovered.

We can say, that in relation to those passengers that have been recovered by the LNG Pioneer, there are 17 on the vessel and I'm informed that all of the passengers are between the ages of 20 and 40 and all are male. We have no detail on those two passengers that were recovered by the Taiwanese fishing vessel.

So we have not, at this point, determined whether the passengers were seeking asylum and we will do that once this rescue mission is over. Our focus is ensuring we do everything we can to recover those people that are still at sea.

QUESTION: Where did the boat originate from?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: We don't have any information regarding the origin.

We received a distress signal early yesterday morning after which the Safety Authority requested all vessels within the 12 hour radius to approach that location. As a result of that request early yesterday, the Taiwanese fishing vessel arrived at ten past four pm, Australia Eastern Standard Time, followed later last night by the LNG Pioneer, the LNG tanker that's providing much assistance to those people now on board. Also is assisting the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and, indeed, the Customs and Border Protection Service, to rescue these passengers at sea.

QUESTION: What nationality did you say these people were?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: It's not yet been confirmed, in so far as their ethnicity. I've only been provided - remembering we're talking about information being received by foreign commercial vessels at this point, though, I have been informed that the passengers on the LNG Pioneer are males between the age of 20 and 40, but no other particulars have been provided to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

QUESTION: Will any Australia officials be going onto the LNG boat in the next couple of hours to process these people, or meet up with them at least?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: At this point our primary concern is the passengers that find themselves, of course, at sea, and we have two aircraft in the vicinity. A P-3 RAAF aircraft that is providing assistance and has just recently provided a inflatable raft for two people it spotted in the sea. There's also a Dash 8 that's flown from Broome to render assistance.

The - there is no maritime, Australian vessel in the vicinity. It would take 28 hours sailing time, for the closest vessel to reach this particular area. The Australian search and rescue zone is 53 million square kilometres. It is one tenth of the world's surface. It is massive area and that's why we've had to require and have support provided to these passengers by commercial foreign vessels.

QUESTION: So it's already rescued. Where will they go?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: As I've said, the first thing we need to do is to make sure that we do everything we can to rescue those people that currently are at sea. We will do everything we can to recover all passengers and prevent people, wherever possible, perishing in this tragic situation.

At that point, the masters of the vessels will determine, in conjunction with the Australian Maritime safety Authority where the safest port will be. That may well be Christmas Island, it may well be another port. It will be determined by the vessels in conjunction with the Australian Safety Maritime Authority and other authorities.

At this point, we want to rescue the passengers. We want to bring them to a safe port and I've just indicated that could include an Australian port, likely to be Christmas Island or another port, but the captains of the vessels will have a say, pursuant to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

QUESTION: Any chance you'll try to take them to Indonesia, like you're doing with the folk on the [indistinct]?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: [Interrupts] Can I say to you that we are providing assistance to these passengers. This vessel, I'm advised, has gone down in the Australian search and rescue zone, and for that reason we are assisting by leading the coordination of these two foreign commercial vessels. And, as I've indicated, once all is done to rescue these passengers, to prevent life being lost, we will then determine, in conjunction with the captains of the vessel, where they will - where those vessels will go to.

But can I say to you that may include Christmas Island, or it may include another port. It will be determined by the vessels and, indeed, by the Australia authorities, as is proper, pursuant to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

QUESTION: Was the Government tracking this boat beforehand, and how did you know that there were 40 people on board?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: We've received a distress signal yesterday morning, for the first time, I'm advised. As a result of that distress signal we had - we put out a request that any vessels within a 12 hour area from - in terms of sea travel, to go to render assistance.

The two foreign commercial vessels were in a position to do so, and for that reason we have so far managed to recover 19 passengers and we hope to recover more. And we'll continue to work with those foreign vessels, and our own aircraft will continue to work with them so we can reduce any likelihood of people losing their lives at sea.

This is a tragic situation that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is helping coordinate, and once we've done everything we can to rescue these passengers, we'll determine all other matters.

QUESTION: But just on the number, did the distress signal say, help, there's 40 of us, or did the vessels get there and establish communication and they said there's 40 of us.

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: The advice I received is that the vessels had provided that information to the Australian Safety Maritime Authority.

QUESTION: And had you tracked this boat? Had your radar...

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: As I've said, I'm advised that the first time we received any signal for distress was in fact yesterday morning...

QUESTION: Were you monitoring its...

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: ...and I have been advised that is the case. And as a result of that distress signal, we of course then put out a request for vessels to seek to render assistance. I am pleased to see the fact that we had two foreign commercial vessels that could do that.

But right now we are doing everything we can to prevent life being lost, and we'll continue to work with those two commercial foreign vessels to recover people that are at sea.

This is happening as we speak. It's a tragic situation and we want to continue to do everything we can in order to prevent life being lost.

QUESTION: Can I just ask you, before the signal arrived, were you aware of this boat's presence, and did you have suspicions that it was carrying people when it...

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Look, I'm advised that the first contact that we received in relation to this vessel was the distress signal yesterday morning. And as a result, we've sought those commercial vessels to render assistance.

QUESTION: I don't mean to be dogmatic, but you didn't really answer it.

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Well, I'm just saying to you it's - this is a - this is a rescue mission. We're doing everything we can to rescue those passengers, and we received a distress signal yesterday morning and we'll continue to do everything we can to prevent people losing their lives at sea.

QUESTION: In terms of the Oceanic Viking, is the Government investigating claims that have been made by some of these asylum seeks that they've been mistreated by staff on the vessel?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Any claims that are made in relation to treatment of passengers on the Oceanic Viking of course would be considered. I'm advised that the passengers and the personnel on the Oceanic Viking are indeed in a very good relationship. It's a very difficult time for all concerned on that vessel, but there is no evidence that there's been any truth to the claims made. And therefore I'm advised that the Oceanic Viking will continue to be docked at the port in Indonesia and will continue to work with the Indonesian authorities so that we can ensure the safe and civil transfer of passengers onto the Indonesian soil.

QUESTION: So is there an investigation taking place?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: As I say, if there are claims made, then we will of course seek to confirm or refute those claims. I have been advised there is no such evidence that would suggest that those claims are correct.

QUESTION: Two more questions.

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: As I'm advised, there's approximately 40 people, according to initial reports. We can only go on the initial reports of the commercial vessels in relation to the numbers, and they've approximated 40.

I can confirm there's now been 19 that have been rescued and are on the two commercial vessels. And therefore, of course, if the 40 number is close to accurate, then there are still people to be saved. And I can also confirm that the RAAF P-3 aircraft that we have in the vicinity has just sent over an inflatable raft for two people it spotted in the ocean.

This rescue is going on as we speak, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure there are no lives lost at sea if that's at all possible.

QUESTION: As of right now, how many people - how long have those people been in the water and how long does a search-and-rescue operation remain a search-and-rescue operation and not a recovery operation?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: The search-and-rescue operation will continue until we've done everything we can to prevent any life lost at sea, and that's then determined by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

In relation to how long they have been in the water, I'm advised that late last night, approximately 11.15pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, a vessel was sunk, according to the commercial - the commercial foreign vessels in the vicinity.

Therefore, of course, it's now been some time, some hours, and as a result, we need to move very quickly and do everything we can to rescue those that are still at sea.

QUESTION: That's nine hours. How long does it remain a search-and-rescue operation? How much longer do you expect - if these people are still alive, how they will survive in the sea, in the open water?

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Well, as I understand it, we are still focusing on rescuing people at sea. That will continue until there is no chance of survival, and that will be determined by the authorities involved in the rescue itself, of course, including the two commercial vessels, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But can I say we are rescuing people or seeking to rescue people as we speak and we'll continue to do so until we prevent the likelihood of any life being lost.

Thank you very much.

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• 

© Copyright Attorney-General's Department 2010