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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/10/tony-abbott-compares-secrecy-over-asylum-seekers-to-wartime-policy
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| Tony Abbott compares secrecy over asylum seekers to wartime policy | Tony Abbott compares secrecy over asylum seekers to wartime policy |
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| The prime minister Tony Abbott has brushed off questions about government secrecy over the Coalition’s approach to border protection, saying that if Australia was at war he would not give out information that was useful to the enemy “just because people have an idle curiosity”. | The prime minister Tony Abbott has brushed off questions about government secrecy over the Coalition’s approach to border protection, saying that if Australia was at war he would not give out information that was useful to the enemy “just because people have an idle curiosity”. |
| Abbott also said people held in immigration detention were doing “something they must have known was wrong” when they sought asylum by boat, adding that the government didn’t apologise for the fact that detention centres were “not five star or even three star hotels”. | Abbott also said people held in immigration detention were doing “something they must have known was wrong” when they sought asylum by boat, adding that the government didn’t apologise for the fact that detention centres were “not five star or even three star hotels”. |
| Appearing on the Ten network’s Wake Up program on Friday morning, the prime minister was asked by hosts James Mathison and Natarsha Belling about the lack of transparency resulting from the refusal of his office and that of immigration minister Scott Morrison to answer questions about asylum seeker policies, and whether the public had a right to know what was being carried out by the government. | Appearing on the Ten network’s Wake Up program on Friday morning, the prime minister was asked by hosts James Mathison and Natarsha Belling about the lack of transparency resulting from the refusal of his office and that of immigration minister Scott Morrison to answer questions about asylum seeker policies, and whether the public had a right to know what was being carried out by the government. |
| “The public want the boats stopped and that’s really what they want – that’s really my determination,” said Abbott. | “The public want the boats stopped and that’s really what they want – that’s really my determination,” said Abbott. |
| “If stopping the boats means being criticised because I’m not giving information that would be of use to people smugglers, so be it. We are in a fierce contest with these people smugglers. If we were in war we would not be giving out information that is of use to the enemy just because we might have an idle curiosity about it ourselves.” | “If stopping the boats means being criticised because I’m not giving information that would be of use to people smugglers, so be it. We are in a fierce contest with these people smugglers. If we were in war we would not be giving out information that is of use to the enemy just because we might have an idle curiosity about it ourselves.” |
| On Thursday Abbott defended the government’s secrecy regarding asylum seekers and refused to comment on reports that Australian authorities had towed boats back to Indonesia. | On Thursday Abbott defended the government’s secrecy regarding asylum seekers and refused to comment on reports that Australian authorities had towed boats back to Indonesia. |
| Abbott was also questioned by the breakfast TV hosts about whether he was happy with the conditions inside detention centres. | Abbott was also questioned by the breakfast TV hosts about whether he was happy with the conditions inside detention centres. |
| “I am confident that we are running these centres competently and humanely,” replied Abbott. | “I am confident that we are running these centres competently and humanely,” replied Abbott. |
| “Just on that though, we talked about transparency. We have to take you at your word on that,” said Mathison. | “Just on that though, we talked about transparency. We have to take you at your word on that,” said Mathison. |
| “Reporters aren’t allowed to get in there, journalists aren’t able to get in there. So we don’t really have any confirmation that the conditions in these centres are up to the standards that are acceptable to the Australian public. Do you understand that allowing people in there to have a look so that we know these conditions are up to standard would put people at ease?” | “Reporters aren’t allowed to get in there, journalists aren’t able to get in there. So we don’t really have any confirmation that the conditions in these centres are up to the standards that are acceptable to the Australian public. Do you understand that allowing people in there to have a look so that we know these conditions are up to standard would put people at ease?” |
| Abbott replied: “Let’s remember that everyone in these centres is there because he or she has come illegally to Australia by boat. They have done something that they must have known was wrong. We don’t apologise for the fact that they are not five star or even three star hotels. | Abbott replied: “Let’s remember that everyone in these centres is there because he or she has come illegally to Australia by boat. They have done something that they must have known was wrong. We don’t apologise for the fact that they are not five star or even three star hotels. |
| “Nevertheless, we are confident that we are well and truly discharging our humanitarian obligations. People are housed, they’re clothed, they’re fed, they’re given medical attention, they’re kept as safe as we can make it for them, but we want them to go back to the country from which they came. That’s what we want.” | “Nevertheless, we are confident that we are well and truly discharging our humanitarian obligations. People are housed, they’re clothed, they’re fed, they’re given medical attention, they’re kept as safe as we can make it for them, but we want them to go back to the country from which they came. That’s what we want.” |
| When asked if he also meant people who may be legitimate refugees, Abbott said, “the vast majority of these people, as the former foreign minister Bob Carr said, are economic migrants.” | When asked if he also meant people who may be legitimate refugees, Abbott said, “the vast majority of these people, as the former foreign minister Bob Carr said, are economic migrants.” |
| He said he could accept “the yearning for a better life that beats in the heart of every human being”, but said he has a responsibility to Australians to keep the country secure and its borders safe. | |
| Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said on Twitter shortly after the interview that Abbott’s comments were “fear mongering”. | Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said on Twitter shortly after the interview that Abbott’s comments were “fear mongering”. |
| On Tuesday a Guardian Australia investigation revealed the scale of the violence and chaos inside Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island detention centre, and that between March and June 2013 there was an average of two significant incidents every three days. | On Tuesday a Guardian Australia investigation revealed the scale of the violence and chaos inside Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island detention centre, and that between March and June 2013 there was an average of two significant incidents every three days. |
| A UNHCR report from October 2013 found conditions inside the Manus Island centre did not provide “safe and humane conditions of treatment”. | A UNHCR report from October 2013 found conditions inside the Manus Island centre did not provide “safe and humane conditions of treatment”. |
| It was reported on Friday morning that Morrison’s Operation Sovereign Borders press conference, currently on hold, would not go ahead and that another written update would be given. | It was reported on Friday morning that Morrison’s Operation Sovereign Borders press conference, currently on hold, would not go ahead and that another written update would be given. |
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