Ahem...what the hell were you doing Coastwatch?

[reprise]

So 54 asylum-seekers are now going to be detained on Christmas Island indefinitely because Coastwatch somehow failed to detect them before they entered our exclusion zone, let alone before they entered Australian waters.

More asylum seekers arrive (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6687151%255E421,00.html)

Boat arrival an isolated incident : Ruddock (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/02/1056825430694.html)

Television news bulletins report that the government has stated that it knew the boat was heading towards our shores - why the hell was the order not given to intercept it before it entered Australian waters? As least if the boat had been turned back before it entered Australian waters it could have been given safe passage to Christmas Island or one of the other Pacific Islands - or even all the way back to Indonesia, if necessary - thus ensuring that its occupants didn't become virtual prisoners of the Australian government for an indefinite period of time. On humanitarian grounds alone, this vessel should never have been allowed to enter our waters.

[Leif Roar]

Originally posted by reprise


Television news bulletins report that the government has stated that it knew the boat was heading towards our shores - why the hell was the order not given to intercept it before it entered Australian waters?


Probably because the Australian coast guard has limited jurisdiction outside of Australian.

[reprise]

Originally posted by Leif Roar
Probably because the Australian coast guard has limited jurisdiction outside of Australian.

We knew this boat was coming - it sure as hell should have been spotted by Coastwatch as soon as it approached the 12 mile limit. If we had been able to intercept the boat before it crossed into our waters, we could have advised its occupants that they once they entered Australian waters they would be arrested and detained indefinitely not in Australia but on one of the Pacific Island detention centres where we process unauthorised arrivals. That would have at least given those aboard the option of maintaining their freedom by sailing elsewhere.

These people have no hope whatsoever of being granted protection visas (we're trying to expel Vietnamese refugees who came here in the 1970s who have never taken out citizenship), and that is all Australia offers asylum seekers these days.