LL, How can a boating tragedy in another country have anything to do with Australia?
Will the Labor party be demanding a full disclosure and explanation on the Costa Concordia incident next??
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The men and women in our Navy are human beings just like those people and children on those boats who they tried to rescue.If you are unable to comprehend the impact on them ...there probably isn't much point in anyone trying to explain .
Absolutely disgusted to see a PM of our Country run from the cameras like Tony Abbott did ...
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Coalition breaks silence on sunk boat after Tony Abbott flees reporters after asylum seekers drown on way to Australia
- GEMMA JONES & WIRES
- NEWS LIMITED NETWORK
- SEPTEMBER 28,
MIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison has finally responded to questions over an asylum seeker boat which sank off the coast of Indonesia.
Mr Morrison said Australian authorities were initially in charge of the search for the asylum seeker vessel after receiving a phone call about the incident yesterday morning.
Initial reports placed the vessel 25 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast, inside the Indonesian search and rescue region, but a Border Protection Command aircraft and a merchant vessel responding to an all ships broadcast were unable to find it.
The search and rescue operation is now being handled by Indonesian authorities, Mr Morrison said.
"Australian Government officials in Jakarta are seeking additional information from their Indonesian counterparts, including seeking to confirm where the vessel foundered. It is believed to have gone down in Indonesian territory."
He said Australian authorities would continue to provide whatever help was required by the Indonesian government but could not say what assistance was currently being offered.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Tony Abbott ignored reporters seeking information on up to 90 deaths after an asylum boat sank off the coast of Indonesia.
Up to 70 asylum seekers are still missing, feared drowned, after their boat broke up and sank en route to Australia.
At least 22 people, mostly children, are confirmed drowned after the boat, which was believed to be carrying about 120 passengers, struck rough seas on Friday off the coast of Java.
One of the passengers, a Lebanese man, had reportedly lost his pregnant wife and eight children in the disaster.
Just 25 of those aboard had been rescued before efforts to locate survivors were postponed last night due to failing light. The remainder were still in the water.
The boat broke up after it began taking on water about 6pm AEST.
The tragedy unfolded as the government sought to return two rescued groups to Indonesia.
Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott, ignored reporters when asked about the tragedy shortly after he addressed a sporting function this morning.
Nothing quite like being in Melbourne on #AFLGF day. Looking forward to a great game. My tip? Hawthorn by two goals.
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) September 28, 2013
BREAKING: @TonyAbbottMHR has RUN from the AFL grand final breakfast & refused to answer questions about the latest asylum seeker deaths
— Candice Wyatt (@CandiceWyatt10) September 28, 2013
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison’s office did not respond to questions until tonight.
The Coalition has applied a media blackout on regular reporting of asylum seeker arrivals and the actions of Australian authorities with a gag extending to rescuers at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen this morning called on the government to provide a full briefing.
“There are very concerning reports of another tragedy in Indonesia,” Mr Bowen said.
“It appears that the Royal Australian Navy may have been involved in two rescues, although of course details are very, very sketchy.
f course, days like this, all our thoughts go to those who’ve lost their lives and we give our support to the rescuers.”
The government needed to be clear with Australians about what role the Royal Australian Navy and others have played, Mr Bowen said.(see link)
“The government has previously said that when there was a tragedy or a significant event at sea, then they would provide briefings,” he said.
“I would call on the government, through the home affairs minister or the immigration minister, to provide those briefings to the Australian people today.
“This can’t wait for Mr Morrison’s weekly briefing. These updates should be provided as and when the government can.”
