INTERVIEW - 2UE WITH STEVE PRICE
5 November 2009
Subject: Oceanic Viking asylum seeker update
PRICE: The Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor joins us, thanks for your time, Minister.
O’CONNOR: Morning, Steve.
PRICE: In that news headline there, we heard the Prime Minister confirming we've not yet established the status of the 78 people on board the Oceanic Viking, why is that taking so long?
O’CONNOR: The status is determined when UNHCR and other agencies are involved in the processing, and as the UNHCR has made clear, those assessments can be made if people disembark. Now that's the proper process, and that's how it should transpire.
PRICE: So we're never going to be able to establish their status, until they get off?
O’CONNOR: Well, what we've always maintained is that this is a search and rescue mission. We went to the aid of a vessel in the Indonesian search and rescue zone. As we all know now, some weeks ago, the HMAS Armidale, followed by the Oceanic Viking, rescued those 78 passengers, as a result of an agreement struck between our two countries. We headed to an Indonesian port. There's now been sticking points about the disembarkation.
This has been going on for a period, which of course is concerning people, but we are patient, and we will continue to ensure that we do everything we can to realise the agreement.
PRICE: I keep hearing the patient line, and I spoke to the Prime Minister yesterday, we're now up to 17, 18 days, I've almost lost track, I shouldn't be as flippant as that, I think it's 17 days...
O’CONNOR: Yes, it's been a long time now...
PRICE: I'm unclear still. So are we not able to ask them where they came from, or if we begin that process, are you fearful that that will further make it necessary for us to accept these people to Christmas Island?
O’CONNOR: As far as the Government's concerned, these are passengers who've been rescued. There are issues around asylum that can be processed. They should be done so in conjunction with the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration.
Now they all have access to those agencies, once they disembark. That's important. I mean this is to fulfil an agreement that's been reached, and as the Prime Minister said, as the Foreign Minister said, the passengers in this circumstance should not be determining which port they go to, and where they disembark. But it's to be determined by the authorities, and indeed the master of the vessel.
PRICE: A simple question, how are you going to get them off that vessel? You can't leave them there forever.
O’CONNOR: We're continuing to engage with them. Clearly they've gone through a difficult time, but we are continuing to engage and have productive discussions, to realise the agreement.
It's not easy. This is a challenge. The whole area of border protection, and dealing with asylum seekers, particularly when there's conflicts in your region, are challenging. Previous Governments have had challenges, we're engaged in a challenging period, and we'll do what we think is in the interests of this country, and that is, maintaining the integrity of our immigration system, maintaining the integrity of our borders, and properly processing people. And we're doing what is proper, pursuant to our international obligations.
PRICE: Yet again, this morning, a report of a deadline set by the Indonesian Government, and the Indonesian local authorities, is there a deadline for Oceanic Viking to remain in that area, or not?
O’CONNOR: There's a clearance that's required for vessels when docked in any country's port. The same goes for Indonesia, with respect to the Oceanic Viking. It's standard procedure that you have temporary access, and then that access is renewed.
So for example, Oceanic Viking has had a clearance, and then it has needed to have that clearance renewed, and that clearance was renewed, and that's standard procedure. And we would expect that to be the case, if there's a requirement to renew it beyond today.
PRICE: So I guess the current permission extends until what, midnight tonight, you'd expect that the Foreign Ministry in Indonesia, would give you another extension, is that what you're saying?
O’CONNOR: That's right, that's right.
PRICE: On the boat from overnight, do you know yet whether they are asylum seekers, this vessel stopped near the Tiwi Islands?
O’CONNOR: No, the ACV's Holdfast Bay intercepted the very small vessel 35 nautical miles north of Cape Van Diemen in the Tiwi Islands, and they've also been assisted by the Navy vessel, HMAS Pirie. There are 16 people on board. They're being taken to Christmas Island. We cannot determine at this point their ethnicity or whether they're asylum seekers, but you know, of course people will speculate that they are.
PRICE: That was a fishing boat, was it?
O’CONNOR: It was a fishing vessel, quite a small vessel, and as always, the health and wellbeing of people is our first concern. And there appear to be no significant health issues, and they'll proceed to Christmas Island, where the security matters and identity checks will be determined, as will of course the reason to travel.
PRICE: So 16 from there, 27 from the Cocos Island disaster, they're near to getting to Christmas Island, are they?
O’CONNOR: Yes, the LNG Pioneer, the Bahamas LNG tanker, took sail at 10.30, after the rescue mission had been suspended, and they should be at Christmas Island some time early tomorrow morning. It's about a 40-hour sailing time, and those 27 then will be treated for trauma. They've gone through of course an awful experience, and we will have people on standby to assist them, and provide them the care they need.
PRICE: Forty-three more into Christmas Island, how much pressure does that put on your resources there?
O’CONNOR: Look, there's been a surge, as a result of these conflicts around the world. There's been an increased incidence of people seeking asylum in First World countries, including Australia, but the Minister for Immigration has expanded the capacity of Christmas Island now. So there's sufficient room for those passengers, both the vessel intercepted north of Darwin yesterday afternoon, and also the LNG Pioneer passengers that were rescued at sea, in the Australian search and rescue zone.
PRICE: The status of the people on board that boat in Merak, is that the same as the 78 on the Oceanic Viking, aside from the fact that they're not on an Australian vessel?
O’CONNOR: The vessel intercepted that is now at Port Merak, was intercepted by the Indonesian authorities, in Indonesian waters, as a result of a suspicion that it may be conducted by people-smugglers. I think that's been pretty much confirmed.
The Oceanic Viking of course was in a different situation, insofar as it was an Australian vessel, going to the aid of an unseaworthy vessel in the Indonesian search and rescue zone, at the request of the Indonesian authorities. And in other words, it was under the Safety of the Life At Sea Convention.
So it was I guess motivated for a different reason, but it is now at a dock in Indonesia, waiting for the disembarkation of those assengers that were saved by our personnel.
PRICE: Appreciate your time. Thanks.
O’CONNOR: Thanks, Steve.
PRICE: Brendan O'Connor, Home Affairs Minister there, with a hell of a lot on his plate.
