Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Hansard source

The first thing to say is that they do intercept vessels, and that is in itself a very significant challenge, given the flow of vessels. We know that. I have referred to some of the really challenging circumstances that they have confronted, including having to rescue people in SOLAS situations and indeed having to deal with, as I have already referred to, that awful situation on 15 December 2010, where 50 people died when a vessel foundered on the rocks of Christmas Island. On that occasion our naval and Customs personnel went into RIBs and tenders and went to the rescue of those people.

The fact is, firstly, that the honourable member compares intercepting pirates on the high seas to returning or not returning people who are seeking asylum. I do not think intercepting pirates on the high seas is analogous. I refer the honourable member to the former admiral of the Navy—

Mr Morrison interjecting—

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