Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes. Operational information is provided by the Sri Lankan authorities to the Australian authorities on a confidential basis. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is the lead agency on people smuggling and questions regarding illegal boat arrivals should be referred to the Minister for Home Affairs.

(2) Yes. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia has publicly expressed the view that boats should be turned around at sea and sent back to where they come from (The Australian, 16 July 2012). Defence is not aware of any occurence where Sri Lankan authorities have expressed views directly to Defence officials regarding a boat or boats being returned to Sri Lanka.

(3) No. At no time has the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence's Office or the Australian Defence Organisation instructed the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to intercept any boat before it entered Australian waters. Border Protection Command is the lead agency for interception of Illegal Maritime Arrival ventures into Australia's maritime domain. Defence contributes to the conduct of interception activities; however Border Protection Command directs and controls interceptions.