Extract from ABC News
Updated
Photo:
The Federal Government has declined to confirm or deny payments were made to asylum seeker boat crews. (Royal Australian Navy: Sgt Rob Nyffenegger)
The Federal Opposition has requested an urgent
independent investigation into claims "bribes have been paid" by
Australian authorities to people smugglers to return a boat to
Indonesia.
Crew members and asylum seekers from a vessel which ran
aground on an Indonesian reef earlier this month have said Australian
officials handed over thousands of dollars in cash after intercepting their vessel.Indonesia is investigating the claims and has asked Australia's ambassador in Jakarta for an explanation.
Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles has written to the auditor-general requesting an urgent investigation.
"Last night I wrote [to] the auditor-general and have asked firstly for an investigation as to whether these bribes have been paid," Mr Marles said.
"If this happened, there are serious questions about the legal basis upon which it has happened."
The letter asks, if payments have been made, whether it "would be a proper use of public resources".
"I ask you to consider investigating these concerning circumstances, including if any payment to people smugglers or their agents was made, and if so, the nature of how or whether it was properly authorised."
Meanwhile Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has suggested Indonesia better secure its own borders.
"The best way for Indonesia to resolve any concerns it has about Operation Sovereign Borders is for Indonesia to enforce sovereignty over its borders," Ms Bishop told News Corp Australia.
"Operation Sovereign Borders is necessary because Indonesian boats with Indonesian crews are leaving Indonesia with the express intention of breaching our sovereignty, facilitated by illegal people-smuggling syndicates.
"I look forward to hearing the full results of Indonesia's investigation of the people smuggling crimes committed in Indonesia, including any breaches of passport and visa laws, and establishing whether the captains and crews of these boats are part of people-smuggling syndicates or are paid by them."
Taxpayers deserve to know how money spent: Xenophon
The Federal Government is expected to be pushed in Parliament today to explain if payment occurred.Independent senator Nick Xenophon said he wanted to know if the allegations were true.
"Taxpayers' money is at stake," he said.
"We deserve to know how it was spent, whether taxpayers' money was used or not and the rationale for that."
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the party will today try to use the Senate to demand the release of documents to show if payments were made.
"The Greens will also be referring the matter for investigation to the AFP," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"The Indonesian police can investigate this matter, so too can the Australian Federal Police.
"The Prime Minister says he's got a mandate to stop the boats.
"Well, he doesn't have a mandate to break the law, and he doesn't have a mandate for handing out big wads of cash out on the ocean."
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has responded to questions about the allegations by focusing on his Government's record.
"There's really only one thing to say here and that is that we have stopped the boats," Mr Abbott said yesterday.
"That's good for Australia, it's good for Indonesia."
Labor is also pressuring Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
Last week he said no money had been paid but yesterday he reverted to saying the Government would not comment on operational matters.
"In the course of last week he categorically ruled out, he staked his reputation, that no people smugglers have been paid taxpayer money in the carrying out of the people smuggling," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said.
"Yet today, the Minister for Immigration has refused to stand by his earlier categorical denials."
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