Interview - Mobile xray units
28 June 2010
Fiat Australia Headquarters, Waterloo, Sydney
Topics: Two new mobile x-ray units for Customs and Border Protection; Prime Minister Julia Gillard; asylum seekers
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: It's fantastic to be with Fiat Australia and can I also acknowledge Smiths Detections. This is a very important initiative. Can I formally acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present. I acknowledge of course Customs and Border Protection, an agency that is vital to ensure that we protect our borders from illicit drugs, from explosives and weapons and, indeed, other potential threats to this country.
Today I'm here to announce the new x-ray mobile units that will be utilised by Customs and Border Protection to be able to better detect illicit material, such as illicit drugs, explosives, firearms, knives and other illicit goods into our country.
We have a good record in this country. We have strong border protection and Customs and Border Protection work with law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies of this country and do a fine job. But we can always do better.
This government, the Gillard Government, is certainly focused on a need to enhance our capacity. And this is a partnership of intelligence-led approach by Customs and Border Protection to ensure that we focus on those areas that are most at risk. And at the same time using that intelligence-led approach to protecting our borders we need to complement that with the best of technology.
These two units are indeed examples of using not only the best available technology to detect illicit materials and dangerous substances that might come into our ports, but also provide the flexibility that Customs and Border Protection require in order to go to areas where there may be an increased risk.
So the combination of using the intelligence from our intelligence agencies, from the Australian Federal Police and, through the good services of the hard work of the officers of Customs and Border Protection will be better served by having this technology.
And I'd like, of course, to thank not only the Fiat Australia for hosting today but also acknowledge Smiths Detections, because it's through our engagement with the private sector we've come across a very, very good unit indeed.
I should also indicate there are two mobile x-ray units that have been delivered to Customs today. That will be followed with five further units that have this capability and flexibility from 2011, and a further five from 2012.
And we are also refitting those current x-ray units so that they can have the enhanced technology that was required to make sure that we have the best possible facilities and capacity to protect our borders and to prevent, wherever possible, illicit weapons, illicit drugs, explosives and other potentially dangerous goods coming into our country.
So without any further ado, I'm happy to acknowledge formally and thank all of the people involved in these two fantastic x-ray mobile units. And I'm happy to take any questions if people have them.
JOURNALIST: In the Newspoll out today the Government's doing well with Julia Gillard as you mentioned, moving into the Prime Ministership. You must be pretty happy with that result?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Look, I won't pretend to say I don't look at polls but I'm not preoccupied by polls and I can assure you the government is focused on those things that matter most to Australians. That's of course ensuring that we maintain a strong economy, ensure that we get back into the budget within three years, three years ahead of schedule. Ensure we deliver health and education services to our nation.
That's the focus of this government and that's the focus of Prime Minister Gillard. And can I say I'm here today to talk about also a very important priority of this government, which is national security. These units will indeed provide that security by enhancing our capacity to detect illicit goods.
JOURNALIST: Is there any concern, though, that this is a honeymoon period for Ms Gillard and that you can see them go back to where Mr Rudd's levels were?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: We really are focused on the job at hand. I'd made a decision to come here today some time late last - or early last week. I'm here. I'm here because this government is getting on with the job of delivering to the Australian people. The Australian people expect their government to do everything they can to protect their ports, to protect their borders, to reduce the likelihood that illicit goods would come into this country.
Today's initiative is exactly about that. It's exactly about delivering better technology, better capability in order to prevent dangerous goods coming into this country.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken to Julia Gillard about whether you'll be staying as Home Affairs Minister?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: In relation to all those other matters, that's entirely the job of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will make the decisions in relation to those matters. I am the Minister for Home Affairs. My job is to work with my agencies in order to protect our borders and protect our ports and I'll continue to do my job each and every day until the election, when the Australian people will decide who they wish to lead them beyond that.
JOURNALIST: Thinking about the actual Australian protection, what are your thoughts on Sheikh Leghaei's deportation on Sunday night?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: As I understand it, there was a decision made by the Department of Immigration that the person was not in a position to stay in this country. I'm advised that the Minister for Immigration did not intervene and therefore must have affirmed by not intervening that decision. For that reason I of course rely upon the good advice of our security agencies, but ultimately the Department of Immigration, to make that decision.
And the Minister responsible has left that decision stand and therefore given what I know, it would seem to be the correct decision and therefore I support that position.
JOURNALIST: Minister, on asylum seekers, though, the Prime - the new Prime Minister has made some remarks about policy approach to them. What changes will be made in that regard?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: The Prime Minister made it clear on the day of her elevation to that position that she understood the concerns and anxieties of some people in this country about the arrival of boats in that manner. And she has made clear that she is concerned, as we all are, about ensuring our borders are protected.
Now we're here with Customs and Border Protection. They do a magnificent job. This government has dedicated more resources to protect our borders than any previous government. And it's for that reason that we've had a much higher interception rate and far fewer problems in terms of boats arriving on the mainland.
In fact, one in 10 vessels under the previous government landed on mainland Australia, including near places such as Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and even the coast of New South Wales. That happened under the previous government.
We have made sure that we've maintained the proper processing of asylum seekers.
But can I say, as the Prime Minister's made clear, if those asylum seekers are not genuine they will go home and we'll continue to work with our neighbours in the region to ensure that we reduce and ultimately stop those vessels.
JOURNALIST: Does it signal, though, a tougher policy on asylum seekers?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: I think firstly the Prime Minister understands the anxiety that people have in the community and the fact that they want, that is the Australian people want to see our borders protected. That's why we've dedicated more resources than ever before. They want to see an orderly process wherever possible, in order to ensure that people are not getting advantage over others. They want to see that.
And the Prime Minister made clear only last Thursday, on her first day, that she understands that and the Government will be working, of course, very, very hard to continue to maintain our borders, to protect our borders, but also working closely within the region.
We know these are global and regional problems. We know that there are many first world countries that are targeted for people seeking asylum, so we will continue to work with Indonesia, work with Sri Lanka and other countries to reduce and ultimately stop the flow of these vessels.
JOURNALIST: Do you think it'll be a major part of the campaign?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: I'm sorry?
JOURNALIST: Do you think border protection's going to be a major part of the coming election campaign?
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: The priority of most Australians is ensuring that their kids get a good education, ensuring that they have access to proper health services, ensuring that a government focuses on the economy, making sure that we build and strengthen our economy.
These are the major issues but, of course, we acknowledge that there are concerns in the community and we want to allay those concerns, and we will continue to work hard.
But as I've said before, and as the Prime Minister said recently, we have a very good record in protecting our borders and protecting our mainland, and we'll continue to do that. And indeed, we'll work closely within the region to find a solution to this very complex issue.
Nobody's pretending in government that this is easy. Indeed, the previous government didn't pretend it was easy. The Opposition I believe are being dishonest when they say that there's a silver bullet or magic wand to this matter. There's not. But Prime Minister Gillard has made clear that she is aware of the anxiety that people have and we will be doing everything we can to fix this issue.
JOURNALIST: Because it seems as though almost every day, or every other day, your office is putting a new release about another vessel being intercepted. Isn't it clear from that, that Indonesia is letting us down here? They're not pulling their weight.
BRENDAN O'CONNOR: We will work closely with our neighbours within the region. This government has always been honest with the Australian people and when something arises we let them know. The previous government would not inform the public when vessels arrived at our shores. In fact, would leave it days or weeks before they even announced publicly that these vessels arrived on the mainland.
And as we have said, almost one in 10 vessels under the Howard Government arrived on the mainland. We have a much more successful interception rate and we will continue to work with our neighbours within the region, transit and source countries, in order to slow and ultimately cease these vessels.
Thanks very much.
