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Tony Abbott sticks to 'stop the boats' in face of claims people smugglers paid Tony Abbott sticks to 'stop the boats' in face of claims people smugglers paid
(35 minutes later)
Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, remains tight-lipped over claims Australian authorities paid off people smugglers, as pressure mounts from Indonesia to confirm or deny the allegations.Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, remains tight-lipped over claims Australian authorities paid off people smugglers, as pressure mounts from Indonesia to confirm or deny the allegations.
Allegations emerged last week that the Australian government paid people smugglers who were taking 65 asylum seekers to New Zealand to turn the boat around and return to Indonesia in late May.Allegations emerged last week that the Australian government paid people smugglers who were taking 65 asylum seekers to New Zealand to turn the boat around and return to Indonesia in late May.
Abbott on Sunday again refused to deny the allegations, citing the government’s long-held refusal to take about operational “on the water” issues.Abbott on Sunday again refused to deny the allegations, citing the government’s long-held refusal to take about operational “on the water” issues.
“There’s really only one thing to say here, and that is that we’ve stopped the boats. That’s good for Australia, it’s good for Indonesia and it’s particularly good for all those who want to see a better world,” he told reporters in Canberra.“There’s really only one thing to say here, and that is that we’ve stopped the boats. That’s good for Australia, it’s good for Indonesia and it’s particularly good for all those who want to see a better world,” he told reporters in Canberra.
The prime minister added that the government was “prepared to do what is necessary” to ensure that boatloads of asylum seekers do not reach Australian shores.The prime minister added that the government was “prepared to do what is necessary” to ensure that boatloads of asylum seekers do not reach Australian shores.
The UNHCR has reportedly confirmed the allegations, after speaking with passengers aboard the vessel. Guardian Australia has sought comment from the agency’s representatives in Australia, but has been so far unable to independently verify that any payments have been made to people smugglers.The UNHCR has reportedly confirmed the allegations, after speaking with passengers aboard the vessel. Guardian Australia has sought comment from the agency’s representatives in Australia, but has been so far unable to independently verify that any payments have been made to people smugglers.
Indonesia has launched its own investigation into the allegations, with an official saying if true, they represent a “new low” and a “slippery slope” by the Australian government.Indonesia has launched its own investigation into the allegations, with an official saying if true, they represent a “new low” and a “slippery slope” by the Australian government.
The Indonesian foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, has met with the Australian ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, who only just returned to the country after being recalled following the execution of two Australian citizens in April, to discuss the matter.The Indonesian foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, has met with the Australian ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, who only just returned to the country after being recalled following the execution of two Australian citizens in April, to discuss the matter.
Jakarta has never supported Canberra’s boat turn-back measure, a cornerstone of the Coalition’s hardline Operation Sovereign Borders policy.Jakarta has never supported Canberra’s boat turn-back measure, a cornerstone of the Coalition’s hardline Operation Sovereign Borders policy.
On Friday, Abbott told 3AW radio that stopping the boats has “certainly improved our relationship with Indonesia”.On Friday, Abbott told 3AW radio that stopping the boats has “certainly improved our relationship with Indonesia”.
On Sunday, he issued Australia’s close ally with a veiled warning that it would not abandon the measures.On Sunday, he issued Australia’s close ally with a veiled warning that it would not abandon the measures.
“It’s very important that the Indonesians know that the Australian government is absolutely resolute in our determination never to see this evil trade start again,” he said. “I think it’s very important that the Australian public is reassured that there is a government in charge that will not waiver for a second in our determination to make sure the boats stay stopped.” “It’s very important that the Indonesians know that the Australian government is absolutely resolute in our determination never to see this evil trade start again,” he said. “I think it’s very important that the Australian public is reassured that there is a government in charge that will not waver for a second in our determination to make sure the boats stay stopped.”
The opposition’s immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, warned that the allegations had the potential to further damage ties between the neighbouring nations.The opposition’s immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, warned that the allegations had the potential to further damage ties between the neighbouring nations.
“It is no small matter here. This is clearly now having an impact on our relationship with Indonesia,” Marles told ABC TV on Sunday. “That the foreign minister of Indonesia has raised this with our ambassador to Indonesia just highlights the fact it is on their mind. But we shouldn’t be waiting for the Indonesians to do this investigation.”“It is no small matter here. This is clearly now having an impact on our relationship with Indonesia,” Marles told ABC TV on Sunday. “That the foreign minister of Indonesia has raised this with our ambassador to Indonesia just highlights the fact it is on their mind. But we shouldn’t be waiting for the Indonesians to do this investigation.”
He said paying people smugglers would mean that the government was “creating that pull factor” to ensure more risky sea voyages would be attempted.He said paying people smugglers would mean that the government was “creating that pull factor” to ensure more risky sea voyages would be attempted.
“We should not be turning navy vessels into floating ATMs and handing over wads of cash to people smugglers,” Marles said.“We should not be turning navy vessels into floating ATMs and handing over wads of cash to people smugglers,” Marles said.
The Australian Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has told Guardian Australia that the party will write a letter to the Australian federal police asking the agency to investigate whether making such payments breached domestic and international law.The Australian Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, has told Guardian Australia that the party will write a letter to the Australian federal police asking the agency to investigate whether making such payments breached domestic and international law.
“This raises broader concerns about what else Australia has done [within its border protection measures],” Di Natale said.“This raises broader concerns about what else Australia has done [within its border protection measures],” Di Natale said.
The Greens will also introduce a motion to the Senate on Monday asking the government to produce all documents relating to the payment of people smugglers in the past, with Di Natale noting that the measure jeopardised Australia’s fragile relationship with Indonesia.The Greens will also introduce a motion to the Senate on Monday asking the government to produce all documents relating to the payment of people smugglers in the past, with Di Natale noting that the measure jeopardised Australia’s fragile relationship with Indonesia.
Abbott last week refused to deny the allegations, saying that “what we do is we stop the boats by hook or by crook.”Abbott last week refused to deny the allegations, saying that “what we do is we stop the boats by hook or by crook.”
“I just don’t want to go into the details of how it’s done because like a lot of things that law enforcement agencies have to do, it’s necessary, it’s difficult and at times I suppose it’s dangerous work,” he said.“I just don’t want to go into the details of how it’s done because like a lot of things that law enforcement agencies have to do, it’s necessary, it’s difficult and at times I suppose it’s dangerous work,” he said.
The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who earlier in the week denied that payments were made, on Sunday changed his tune, falling in line with Abbott.The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who earlier in the week denied that payments were made, on Sunday changed his tune, falling in line with Abbott.
“The government’s been very clear from day one under Operation Sovereign Borders and that is we don’t comment in relation to operational matters,” Dutton told the ABC at a refugee week event in Brisbane.“The government’s been very clear from day one under Operation Sovereign Borders and that is we don’t comment in relation to operational matters,” Dutton told the ABC at a refugee week event in Brisbane.
“The government will always do the right thing by the Australian people. We will act within the law, we will act within our international obligations.”“The government will always do the right thing by the Australian people. We will act within the law, we will act within our international obligations.”
Related: UN weighs in on outcry over reports Australia paid people smugglersRelated: UN weighs in on outcry over reports Australia paid people smugglers
The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, backed the prime minister, saying that commentators were “overinterpreting” his words.The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, backed the prime minister, saying that commentators were “overinterpreting” his words.
“This proposition that somehow the prime minister has refused to deny [the allegations], and that somehow this is translated into payments have been made is just wrong,” he told Sky News on Sunday. “No indications has been made whatsoever that payments have been made.”“This proposition that somehow the prime minister has refused to deny [the allegations], and that somehow this is translated into payments have been made is just wrong,” he told Sky News on Sunday. “No indications has been made whatsoever that payments have been made.”
He criticised the opposition for being hypocrites on the issue.He criticised the opposition for being hypocrites on the issue.
“The people that got the people smuggling trade going again, the people that gave the biggest ever cash injection to the people smugglers’ business model was the Labor party when they dismantled the successful border protection policies of the previous Howard government,” Cormann said.“The people that got the people smuggling trade going again, the people that gave the biggest ever cash injection to the people smugglers’ business model was the Labor party when they dismantled the successful border protection policies of the previous Howard government,” Cormann said.