INTERVIEW - RADIO NATIONAL WITH FRAN KELLY
4 November 2009
Subject: Update on Indian Ocean vessel rescue mission
KELLY: First though, let's go to the maritime tragedy that's been unfolding off Australia's north-west coast, because it appears to be coming to an end. The authorities seem about to call off the search and rescue mission for those still missing and the LNG tanker with 27 people onboard, is steaming towards Christmas Island.
The boat, ferrying 39 asylum seekers, capsized late Sunday night, 350 nautical miles north-west of the Cocos Islands. Twenty-seven people have been rescued, three others confirmed dead and hopes are fading that any more survivors will be plucked from the choppy seas.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor is the Minister in charge of this operation.
Brendan O'Connor thanks very much for joining us.
O'CONNOR: No problems Fran.
KELLY: Minister, what is the latest from the rescue operation in the Indian Ocean?
O'CONNOR: Well the LNG Pioneer remains on site. It's some hours before light and they're continuing to search for survivors, but when it is light they'll make a decision along with the other vessels and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, as to whether they should then proceed to Christmas Island.
KELLY: Okay, but at that point is that the same as making a decision to call the search off, or will the search and rescue operation continue?
O'CONNOR: Yeah, the appropriate authorities look at the survivability of those that have yet been recovered. It would appear if there is in fact no hope when it's light, they'll proceed to Christmas Island. That will certainly mean the vessel that has those recovered will end its search and the aircraft will end at some point after that.
KELLY: So far only one dead body recovered. Two others, I think, sighted. Will they be recovered, the two that have been sighted?
O'CONNOR: We're not sure. As you've indicated, the 27 survivors, including it's claimed one 15 year old. It's also believed that the two youths aged 13, 14 are among the missing. And the body of one deceased has been recovered and is on the LNG Pioneer. As to the other two that were sighted, they've yet to be recovered.
KELLY: So children really, among the missing, 13 and 14 year olds?
O'CONNOR: Mmm hum.
KELLY: And the youngest person onboard the LNG carrier, at the moment, is 15?
O'CONNOR: I'm advised he's 15.
KELLY: So do we have a firm number yet. It's been suggested, since the beginning, that there were 39 people onboard, which suggests apart from the three bodies sighted, or recovered, another nine people still missing. Is that the...
O'CONNOR: That's right. It was...
KELLY: ...figures you're working with?
O'CONNOR: ...claimed from - by the survivors there were 39 on the vessel that sunk. If that is the case then you're correct, there are nine missing.
KELLY: And Minister, by this time what more do we know about these people onboard. Can you confirm for us now that they are from Sri Lanka?
O'CONNOR: Look, it would appear that every indication is that they are Sri Lankan. And whilst we won't confirm the purpose of travel absolutely until they get to a port and are assessed properly, it certainly would appear that they are Sri Lankan.
KELLY: Okay, but that suggests you've had reports that they are talking about seeking asylum?
O'CONNOR: I haven't had confirmation as to whether they're seeking asylum, but only confirmation as to their ethnicity. What we want to do now is to continue the search until it's appropriate to end it, then have those 27 passengers that have been recovered, brought to the port. And it would appear to be that Christmas Island is the appropriate place for them to go. Then they should be treated, of course, and afterwards they can be interviewed and we can find out more.
KELLY: So if they're seeking asylum, they will be assessed as to whether or not they're refugees and repatriated, resettled here if they are?
O'CONNOR: Of course, if they are seeking asylum they will be assessed, their health and security and identity matters will be dealt with and they will be processed as would be the case in other circumstances.
KELLY: Minister, obviously for many people this has been a deadly voyage this one. Have you got any news of more boats on the way?
O'CONNOR: No I don't have any - I don't have any precise information in relation to that. I can say that we continue, of course, to surveil the waters. It's important that we ensure that we tackle the people smugglers. The fact is that people do and are enticed onto unseaworthy vessels, on quite often empty promises. These smugglers will take all their life savings, promise them things that cannot be fulfilled. And, as we know, it's not the first time, it won't be the last time, that a vessel will perish, or will sink, as a result of these organised syndicates. We need to make sure we do everything we can to dismantle them.
KELLY: Can you clear the rumours up that are already emerging, that this boat was sabotaged, was scuttled?
O'CONNOR: Look, there's a whole range of issues that arise from late Sunday night when the vessel sank. There is plenty of speculation around, but we will ensure we'll inquire into these matters appropriately, once the rescue mission is complete.
KELLY: Meanwhile Minister, there's 78 Sri Lankans still onboard the Australian Custom's vessel the Oceanic Viking. They're staying put. How long can this go on?
O'CONNOR: There are very productive discussions going on between those onboard and the Indonesian authorities and Australian authorities want to continue to work through that. Of course, it's getting difficult for people, but we are ensuring that there's been a change of crew. The - all passengers onboard are being well fed, well looked after and there's plenty of amenities for them. But we want to ensure that we realise the agreement reached between the two countries and we want to do it in a way that's patient, dignified and orderly. And we'll continue to focus on that, until we realise that agreement.
KELLY: Patience and dignified is a good thing, but what if this goes on for months, what if these people just refuse to get off?
O'CONNOR: Well, as I've said, there's been certainly productive discussions and those discussions will continue as we look to reach a settlement on the vessel. There is already an agreement in place between the two countries but, of course, as you've said, there are issues and sticking points on the vessel itself and, therefore, we want to be patient and we want to deal with this in a way that will result in the peaceful transfer of these passengers onto Indonesian soil.
KELLY: Certainly a peaceful transfer is preferable, but you can't give up a customs boat for months. Can this go on for months?
O'CONNOR: Well that's the sort of hypothetical question that's not really needing an answer I don't believe.
KELLY: Well it's not really hypothetical. There's no sign of people moving.
O'CONNOR: I believe it's been some weeks now that the vessel was rescued by Oceanic Viking and HMAS Armadale and - in the Indonesian search and rescue zone. As a result of that rescue and an agreement reached between the two countries, they were brought to a safe port. It's really the decision of the two countries to determine where those passengers disembark. There's been some issues onboard and we want to make sure that those issues are resolved, so the agreement struck between the two countries can be realised.
KELLY: Absolutely, but the issues don't seem to be resolved. The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, now says these people should be brought to Christmas Island too. This has gone on for so long, it's really Australia's problem now by dent of the fact they're onboard our customs ship and stuck there.
O'CONNOR: Well I know the Premier of Western Australia said that and Malcolm Turnbull said that they should be taken off the boat. The Liberals are all over the place on this.
We will continue to work through these issues and have an orderly disembarkation of these passengers. And that's what those people on the boat are charged to do and they'll continue to do that.
KELLY: What's the basis of what you described as the productive discussions going on with the people onboard?
O'CONNOR: Well I can't go into the - those precise matters. I can only say that we're working through those issues and we'll continue to do so.
KELLY: Are we discussing the idea with them of getting them off the boat, getting them processed and then resettling them if they are refugees? Is that a...
O'CONNOR: Well as I said, I won't go into the details of those issues that have been raised by the authorities, with the passengers. I can only say we're in a dialogue with the passengers to ensure the agreement between Indonesia and Australia is properly realised.
KELLY: Brendan O'Connor, thank you very much for joining us.
O'CONNOR: Thank you Fran.
KELLY: Home Affairs Minister O'Connor.
