We cannot escape from the fact that they are Indonesian boats with Indonesian crews from Indonesian ports. Of course, you can return them to Indonesia.” – Shadow foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop, Q&A, 15 July.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has made the same point as Bishop, telling ABC’s 7.30 recently that “the facts are that these are Indonesian crewed, Indonesian flagged, Indonesian home-ported vessels that have a right to access Indonesia”.

Abbott and Bishop have made these comments in the context of proposals to “push back” asylum-seeker boats to the edge of Indonesian territorial waters. They had said this will take place whether or not Indonesia specifically agrees.

The Conversation - July 2013