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Asylum seeker advocates raise concerns over time taken to mount boat rescues Asylum seeker advocates raise concerns over time taken to mount boat rescues
(2 months later)
The sinking of a boat carrying asylum seekers north of Christmas Island, in which a baby boy died and eight people went missing, has led campaigners to question the timing and resources of Australian border control when it comes to search and rescue.The sinking of a boat carrying asylum seekers north of Christmas Island, in which a baby boy died and eight people went missing, has led campaigners to question the timing and resources of Australian border control when it comes to search and rescue.
The Australian Maritime Search and Rescue Authority (Amsa) made the decision to end the aerial and water-based search for the missing eight people on Saturday night, after 88 survivors and the body of a child less than one-year-old had been plucked from the water.The Australian Maritime Search and Rescue Authority (Amsa) made the decision to end the aerial and water-based search for the missing eight people on Saturday night, after 88 survivors and the body of a child less than one-year-old had been plucked from the water.
A standard review by customs and border protection will go ahead, as well as a state coronial investigation into the death of the young boy, the coroner's court of Western Australia confirmed to Guardian Australia.A standard review by customs and border protection will go ahead, as well as a state coronial investigation into the death of the young boy, the coroner's court of Western Australia confirmed to Guardian Australia.
"The most recent asylum seeker boat capsized out of the jurisdiction of the coroner so the missing persons will not be investigated unless the bodies are recovered and brought to Christmas Island," a spokeswoman said."The most recent asylum seeker boat capsized out of the jurisdiction of the coroner so the missing persons will not be investigated unless the bodies are recovered and brought to Christmas Island," a spokeswoman said.
However, asylum seeker advocates and critics of Australia's border protection expressed concerns that the length of time it took rescuers to reach this and other vessels in distress had cost lives.However, asylum seeker advocates and critics of Australia's border protection expressed concerns that the length of time it took rescuers to reach this and other vessels in distress had cost lives.
"We are concerned at the increasing number of people drowning at sea," Pamela Curr, campaign co-ordinator from the asylum seeker resource centre (ASRC), told Guardian Australia. "It is within the context of an increased number of boats but you would also think that with that increasing number of boats that the level of response would also increase.""We are concerned at the increasing number of people drowning at sea," Pamela Curr, campaign co-ordinator from the asylum seeker resource centre (ASRC), told Guardian Australia. "It is within the context of an increased number of boats but you would also think that with that increasing number of boats that the level of response would also increase."
Curr said the ASRC was concerned that the politics entrenched in the issue of asylum seeker boat arrivals was encroaching on search and rescue policy.Curr said the ASRC was concerned that the politics entrenched in the issue of asylum seeker boat arrivals was encroaching on search and rescue policy.
"Our concern is that we know people are notifying Amsa and it seems that [Amsa] may be directed to spend more time than is necessary in verifying the calls before responding," she said. "In no way are we questioning the courage or the efficiency of the rescuers. I want to make that clear. ""Our concern is that we know people are notifying Amsa and it seems that [Amsa] may be directed to spend more time than is necessary in verifying the calls before responding," she said. "In no way are we questioning the courage or the efficiency of the rescuers. I want to make that clear. "
The Australian maritime search and rescue manual dictates that "in general a [search and rescue] incident is considered imminent or actual when it is apparent that persons are, or may be, in distress or when a request for assistance has been received".The Australian maritime search and rescue manual dictates that "in general a [search and rescue] incident is considered imminent or actual when it is apparent that persons are, or may be, in distress or when a request for assistance has been received".
Former Australian ambassador Tony Kevin, a strong critic of Australia's border protection system, told Guardian Australia a response of initial disbelief had developed within the search and rescue "bureaucracies" when it came to asylum seeker boats, and a "shirking of responsibility" to Indonesia.Former Australian ambassador Tony Kevin, a strong critic of Australia's border protection system, told Guardian Australia a response of initial disbelief had developed within the search and rescue "bureaucracies" when it came to asylum seeker boats, and a "shirking of responsibility" to Indonesia.
Kevin said there was almost an assumption that asylum seekers had "to prove they're in distress, I think, before anything can be done to help them".Kevin said there was almost an assumption that asylum seekers had "to prove they're in distress, I think, before anything can be done to help them".
"When one analyses the history of these events, one does see a pattern of delayed response, of trying – in some cases – to bump the responsibilities to the Indonesians," he said, "although our search and rescue agency knows that [the Indonesians] are not able for various reasons to handle it effectively."When one analyses the history of these events, one does see a pattern of delayed response, of trying – in some cases – to bump the responsibilities to the Indonesians," he said, "although our search and rescue agency knows that [the Indonesians] are not able for various reasons to handle it effectively.
"Everybody holds themselves in readiness but no one actually does anything, and people die."Everybody holds themselves in readiness but no one actually does anything, and people die.
"It's a question of when do the maritime rescue and border protection authorities choose to rescue a boat and when do they choose unaccountably to just wait and see what happens?""It's a question of when do the maritime rescue and border protection authorities choose to rescue a boat and when do they choose unaccountably to just wait and see what happens?"
Amsa strongly rejected Kevin's accusations.Amsa strongly rejected Kevin's accusations.
"The Australian Maritime Safety Authority takes all calls for assistance seriously," a spokeswoman told Guardian Australia."The Australian Maritime Safety Authority takes all calls for assistance seriously," a spokeswoman told Guardian Australia.
"We have a team of dedicated search and rescue professionals working around the clock to receive calls, to assess the assistance required and then to organise the appropriate assistance as quickly as can practically be done.""We have a team of dedicated search and rescue professionals working around the clock to receive calls, to assess the assistance required and then to organise the appropriate assistance as quickly as can practically be done."
Border protection command (BPC) also reacted strongly to Kevin's statements over the weekend that the rescue effort in this latest incident reflected a "disdain" for asylum seekers, and said his claims "are without foundation, offensive and reflect a profound misunderstanding of maritime operations in this area. Any suggestion BPC applies a different operational approach to asylum seeker vessels, as opposed to any other vessel requesting assistance, is completely false," said a statement.Border protection command (BPC) also reacted strongly to Kevin's statements over the weekend that the rescue effort in this latest incident reflected a "disdain" for asylum seekers, and said his claims "are without foundation, offensive and reflect a profound misunderstanding of maritime operations in this area. Any suggestion BPC applies a different operational approach to asylum seeker vessels, as opposed to any other vessel requesting assistance, is completely false," said a statement.
The head of customs and border protection Michael Pezzullo said on Monday morning that distress calls from asylum seeker boats were "the equivalent of receiving multiple triple-0 calls" for authorities.The head of customs and border protection Michael Pezzullo said on Monday morning that distress calls from asylum seeker boats were "the equivalent of receiving multiple triple-0 calls" for authorities.
"Amsa has to make some very fine line decisions about how to task very scarce resources, some of which might be merchant ships in the area, some might be our vessels," Pezzullo told Radio National."Amsa has to make some very fine line decisions about how to task very scarce resources, some of which might be merchant ships in the area, some might be our vessels," Pezzullo told Radio National.
The issue in the latest case is the number of hours it took for authorities to direct search and rescue to the vessel after the AFP received a call from a Melbourne man at 11.15am on Friday, reporting that he had been called by a passenger on the boat who said they were in distress.The issue in the latest case is the number of hours it took for authorities to direct search and rescue to the vessel after the AFP received a call from a Melbourne man at 11.15am on Friday, reporting that he had been called by a passenger on the boat who said they were in distress.
Almost four hours passed before authorities believed they had located the boat and broadcast a call to nearby shipping to assist – which a Singapore tanker answered – and another 90 minutes before a customs vessel, the ACV Triton, was readied. After the AFP received further distress calls around 4.30pm, the Triton was told to head north to the stricken vessel, reaching it at approximately 10pm, around the same time as the tanker.Almost four hours passed before authorities believed they had located the boat and broadcast a call to nearby shipping to assist – which a Singapore tanker answered – and another 90 minutes before a customs vessel, the ACV Triton, was readied. After the AFP received further distress calls around 4.30pm, the Triton was told to head north to the stricken vessel, reaching it at approximately 10pm, around the same time as the tanker.
Half an hour later a wave swamped the boat, capsizing it. Customs personnel in two tenders and a life raft from the Triton, reportedly with the assistance of the merchant tanker, began rescuing people from the water.Half an hour later a wave swamped the boat, capsizing it. Customs personnel in two tenders and a life raft from the Triton, reportedly with the assistance of the merchant tanker, began rescuing people from the water.
HMAS Albany and HMAS Bathurst were called for extra assistance. By 2.20am on Saturday, 88 people had been rescued from the water and the body of the boy recovered. The Albany arrived at 4am.HMAS Albany and HMAS Bathurst were called for extra assistance. By 2.20am on Saturday, 88 people had been rescued from the water and the body of the boy recovered. The Albany arrived at 4am.
A search for eight people still missing began, involving two navy patrol boats, the merchant vessel and three aircraft, but was called off at around 10pm Saturday night "based on the high probability that anyone alive would have been found during the day and on medical advice on survivability", Amsa said.A search for eight people still missing began, involving two navy patrol boats, the merchant vessel and three aircraft, but was called off at around 10pm Saturday night "based on the high probability that anyone alive would have been found during the day and on medical advice on survivability", Amsa said.
The 88 survivors of the tragedy are currently in the Christmas Island detention centre undergoing security and identity checks. They are from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and are believed to have joined the boat in Indonesia.The 88 survivors of the tragedy are currently in the Christmas Island detention centre undergoing security and identity checks. They are from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and are believed to have joined the boat in Indonesia.
A Department of Immigration spokesman told Guardian Australia on Sunday it was providing psychological care and counselling to the survivors and would "continue to provide whatever care they do require".A Department of Immigration spokesman told Guardian Australia on Sunday it was providing psychological care and counselling to the survivors and would "continue to provide whatever care they do require".
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