[Extracted from Senate Hansard, 15 October 2003, p.16539]

IMMIGRATION: PEOPLESMUGGLING
Senator BROWN (Tasmania) (4.21pm) - by leave -I move the motion, as amended:

That the Senate - notes:

(i) the Government’s failure to respond to the two Senate orders of 10 December and 11 December 2002 concerning the People Smuggling Disruption Program and the ineffectual pursuit by Australian justice authorities of the alleged people smuggler Abu Quassey,

(ii) that it is 2 years since 142 women, 65 men and 146 children perished after their boat, referred to as SIEV X, sank, and that the Government has still failed to establish where the vessel sank or release a list of names of the dead; and

(iii) that the Minister for Justice and Customs (Senator Ellison) has revealed that a list was provided to the Australian Federal Police from a confidential source, but that it is unlikely that a full list of those who boarded SIEV X or those who drowned will ever be available; and

(b) calls on the Government to produce the list and any information it possesses as to its veracity.

Question agreed to.


[NB: Below is the text of this motion as it appeared in the temporary Hansard on 16 October 2003. Note that the reference to the sinking position of SIEVX does not appear in the permanent version of Hansard].

IMMIGRATION: PEOPLE-SMUGGLING

Senator BROWN (Tasmania) (4.21 p.m.)- as amended, by leave - I move the motion, as amended:
That the Senate:
(a) notes:
(i) the Government's failure to respond to the two Senate orders of 10 December and 11 December 2002 concerning the People Smuggling Disruption Program and the ineffectual pursuit by Australian justice authorities of the alleged people smuggler Abu Quassey,
(ii) that it is 2 years since 142 women, 65 men and 146 children perished after their boat, referred to as SIEV X, sank 100 kilometres south of Indonesia in international waters that were being closely monitored by Australian air and naval forces, but a list of the names of the dead still has not been released, and
(iii) that the Minister for Justice and Customs (Senator Ellison) has revealed that a list was provided to the Australian Federal Police from a confidential source, but that it is unlikely that a full list of those who boarded SIEV X or those who drowned will ever be available; and
(b) calls for the Australian Federal Police list and the identity of its source to be released immediately.
Question agreed to.

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