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Tony Abbott refuses to deny that Australia paid people-smugglers thousands to turn back a boat full of asylum seekers Tony Abbott refuses to deny that Australia paid people-smugglers thousands to turn back a boat full of asylum seekers
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister, has declined to comment on reports the Australian navy paid a group of people-smugglers thousands of dollars to turn around their boat packed with asylum-seekers. Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister, has declined to comment on reports claiming the Australian navy paid a group of people-smugglers thousands of dollars to turn around their boat packed with asylum-seekers.
Australia would not comment on "operational" crime-fighting and security matters, Mr Abbott said, amid claims that people-smugglers were paid about A$5,000 each to abandon their journey to Australia and return to Indonesia after being intercepted at sea.Australia would not comment on "operational" crime-fighting and security matters, Mr Abbott said, amid claims that people-smugglers were paid about A$5,000 each to abandon their journey to Australia and return to Indonesia after being intercepted at sea.
Opponents of the Australian Government's tough immigration policies have labelled the allegations "appalling" and akin to participating in people-trafficking, and called on Mr Abbott to come clean. The Indonesian government has said it is investigating the allegations. Opponents of the Australian government's tough immigration policies have labelled the allegations "appalling" and akin to participating in people-trafficking, and called on Mr Abbott to give a full statement. The Indonesian government has said it is investigating the allegations.
Australia has vowed to stop asylum-seekers reaching its shores, turning boats back to Indonesia when it can and sending asylum-seekers to camps in impoverished Papua New Guinea and Nauru for long-term detention.Australia has vowed to stop asylum-seekers reaching its shores, turning boats back to Indonesia when it can and sending asylum-seekers to camps in impoverished Papua New Guinea and Nauru for long-term detention.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton have both denied the reports, in Australian and Indonesian media, that a boat was turned back in return for around A$ 40,000.Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton have both denied the reports, in Australian and Indonesian media, that a boat was turned back in return for around A$ 40,000.
But Mr Abbott told reporters: "We don't go into the details of operational measures to fight crime, we don't go into the details of operational measures on national security, and I'm certainly not going to go into the details of operational matters on the water now."But Mr Abbott told reporters: "We don't go into the details of operational measures to fight crime, we don't go into the details of operational measures on national security, and I'm certainly not going to go into the details of operational matters on the water now."
The Prime Minister told 3AW: "What we do is we stop the boats by hook or by crook. That's what we've got to do and that's what we've successfully done. I don't want to go into how it's done."The Prime Minister told 3AW: "What we do is we stop the boats by hook or by crook. That's what we've got to do and that's what we've successfully done. I don't want to go into how it's done."
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir told reporters the captain of the asylum-seeker vessel was being detained on charges related to people-smuggling.Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir told reporters the captain of the asylum-seeker vessel was being detained on charges related to people-smuggling.
Nasir said the captain and his crew told him that they had received $5,000 per person to turn back the ship, the Investor Daily newspaper on Friday cited Nasir as saying.Nasir said the captain and his crew told him that they had received $5,000 per person to turn back the ship, the Investor Daily newspaper on Friday cited Nasir as saying.
Australian coastguard officials blocking the people-smuggling boat put the money in six black plastic bags and and handed it over, Nasir quoted the captain as saying.Australian coastguard officials blocking the people-smuggling boat put the money in six black plastic bags and and handed it over, Nasir quoted the captain as saying.
"According to them, that happened aboard the ship, the Australian coastguards went to the ship to give the money A$5,000 per person so that they go back to Indonesia," Nasir said."According to them, that happened aboard the ship, the Australian coastguards went to the ship to give the money A$5,000 per person so that they go back to Indonesia," Nasir said.
"We will do further investigation, but if it is true, we are very sorry that it happened.""We will do further investigation, but if it is true, we are very sorry that it happened."
Sri Lankan asylum seekers that were sent back by Australia  Sri Lankan asylum seekers that were sent back by Australia  
The United Nations and human rights groups have criticised Australia over its tough asylum-seeker policy, which Abbott defends as necessary to stop deaths at sea.The United Nations and human rights groups have criticised Australia over its tough asylum-seeker policy, which Abbott defends as necessary to stop deaths at sea.
Australian opposition Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticised Abbott for declining to address the accusations, which she called "appalling".Australian opposition Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticised Abbott for declining to address the accusations, which she called "appalling".
"Either this happened or it didn't. Either the Australian government has paid for the trafficking of people on the high seas or it didn't," Hanson-Young told reporters in Adelaide."Either this happened or it didn't. Either the Australian government has paid for the trafficking of people on the high seas or it didn't," Hanson-Young told reporters in Adelaide.
“The prime minister has all but admitted that the government is prepared to do anything out on the high seas, even it seems if that means breaking the law or participating in people trafficking,” the Guardian quoted Ms Hanson-Young as saying.“The prime minister has all but admitted that the government is prepared to do anything out on the high seas, even it seems if that means breaking the law or participating in people trafficking,” the Guardian quoted Ms Hanson-Young as saying.