HMAS Ballarat intercepts SIEV
09 October 2009
The Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Bathurst, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel (SIEV) at 9.20 am (AEST) on 9 October approximately 18 nautical miles north of Ashmore Island.
Initial indications suggest 52 passengers and 3 crew members are on board the vessel.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, said situations around the world mean that large numbers of displaced persons are looking for settlement and can be targeted by, and fall prey to, people smugglers.
“According to the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report, there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees,” Mr O’Connor said.
The Australian Government encourages orderly migration and places a high priority on protecting Australia’s borders from irregular maritime arrivals, to do so it maintains an effective and visible tactical response program of aerial, land and sea-based patrols.
“This response program is delivered by highly skilled, committed and talented officers working at the frontline. These officers are professionally trained and are able to anticipate maritime threats and to respond effectively to wide variety of contingencies,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Using a combination of Customs and Border Protection and Defence assets, the Australian Government’s Border Protection Command ensures a coordinated national response to security threats in Australia’s maritime domain.
Border Protection Command operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and maintains a high level of readiness, flexibility and initiative and is ready to deal with any threat within Australian waters. Today's successful interception by Border Protection Command demonstrates the effectiveness of the government’s response program and reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting Australia’s borders. The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks as well as establish their reasons for travel.”
