Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I actually do not know how this question ever got past the tactics committee of the opposition, because buried within it is this assumption that somehow there is a capacity constraint within an Australian vessel, military or non-military—that somehow, if there are persons in distress at sea, we should not attend to all those persons. Is that what is being suggested here? Let us go to the facts of this matter, which are that the Indonesian search and rescue authority identified a distress vessel at sea within their search and rescue zone. Secondly, as I am advised, because there was no Indonesian vessel available, they asked for an Australian vessel to assist. Thirdly, Australia, consistent with its obligations under international maritime law, did so. Fourthly, I would believe that any Australian citizen who in the future ran the risk—

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