INTERVIEW – ABC NEWS RADIO WITH MARIUS BENSON
30 October 2009
Subject: Oceanic Viking
ANNA HIPSLEY: And back to that issue of Asylum seekers. The standoff is continuing over those 78 refugees onboard the Oceanic Viking. Meantime, another boat carrying asylum seekers has being intercepted off northern Australia. The 34 people onboard are being taken to Christmas Island. For the latest, Newsradio’s Marius Benson is speaking to the Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O’Connor.
BENSON: Brendan O’Connor, can I begin by first asking you about the boat that was collected yesterday, 34 asylum seekers onboard. That—what’s the situation with that boat now?
O’CONNOR: Yes, the vessel that was intercepted successfully by HMAS Ararat. It was initially detected by a Dash 8 maritime patrol aircraft. Initial indications are that there are 34 passengers and 4 crew members onboard. As always, the health and wellbeing of the people is the Government’s primary concern—there appears to be no significant health issues. The vessel is on its way to Christmas Island as is always the case with the successfully interdicted vessels.
BENSON: Okay, let’s go to the Oceanic Viking, it’s now day 13 of the refugees being on the Oceanic Viking. What’s the situation onboard there now?
O’CONNOR: We continue to be in close discussions with Indonesian authorities on arrangements for disembarkation. The Indonesian Government has provided the Oceanic Viking with the necessary clearance to remain in its waters and we, of course, will continue to work through all issues until those passengers have disembarked.
BENSON: How long do you have clearance to remain in Indonesian waters?
O’CONNOR: We continually renew the clearance arrangements. There has been times where these matters expire and then they’ve been renewed. As the Indonesian Foreign Minister made clear, the Indonesians have an abundance of patience. We, too, are patient. We are calmly working through these matters and properly attending to the processing of 78 passengers onto Indonesian territory.
BENSON: Are they being processed now?
O’CONNOR: Well, as I’ve said. We’ve—there’s an agreement between the Indonesian Government and the Australian Government, after discussions with the Prime Minister of this country and the President of Indonesia. We want, of course, to ensure that the agreement that was made is properly processed. But this is, you know, a challenging time for the crew and for the authorities; and for the passengers. We’ll just make sure we deal with this matter in a dignified way and ensure that people are properly attended to.
BENSON: It’s been reported that there are no Indonesians aboard the Oceanic Viking. Is that the case?
O’CONNOR: As I understand it; that may well be the case. I’ve not been advised otherwise. The fact is that we’ve had the 78 passengers picked up in the Indonesian search and rescue zone and we are dealing with the vessel and the disembarkation of the passengers. There have been Indonesian authorities on the vessel discussing these issues with the Australian authorities. From time to time that will occur as we properly and—in a dignified way—process these passengers.
BENSON: Can I just clarify; is it an option for the Australian authorities to use force to remove these people from the Oceanic Viking? Is that an option?
O’CONNOR: There are of course a number of options available to the crew on this particular vessel. Can I say that we want to make sure that this matter is resolved calmly and properly.
BENSON: Sure, I understand that, but can I just clarify, is force an option?
O’CONNOR: As I’ve said, there are a number of obligations and there are a number of entitlements that the crew have to deal with this matter. The master of the vessel has authority over the vessel and, therefore, there are a number of ways in which this matter can be handled.
BENSON: Including force or excluding force?
O’CONNOR: It’s really important now that we focus on the wellbeing of these passengers. We are discussing with them their entitlements and their obligations, and we will properly process them and transfer them on Indonesian territory. This has to be done carefully and we do not, of course, want to look at any option that would cause anxiety amongst the passengers.
BENSON: Just finally and quickly, is bringing them to Australian soil an option?
O’CONNOR: We have an agreement between the Indonesian Government and ourselves regarding the transfer of these passengers—we are now looking to expeditiously resolve that agreement.
BENSON: Is that no? Not to Australia?
O’CONNOR: We have an agreement, as I’ve made clear. The agreement was as a result of the discussions between the Indonesian President and our Prime Minister. It will ensure that these passengers, after being rescued, will be provided a safe port in Indonesia—we are focusing on ensuring that that agreement is realised.
BENSON: Brendan O’Connor, thank you very much.
O’CONNOR: Thank you very much.
