Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer him to the answers he gave in question time yesterday concerning his or his officers’ involvement in the matters to do with the nine days at sea of the Oceanic Viking and the accommodation of the 78 asylum seekers on board in Indonesia. He indicated that he was unaware of who was making those decisions. With 24 hours to find the answer, could he now tell the House what involvement he or his officers had in the decision making with respect to the Australian Customs ship Oceanic Viking?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said to the House yesterday, there are diplomatic negotiations which occur between governments which, as in previous practice, remain confidential.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, they have been in the past and they will be into the future. The second thing I would say is as follows: in Indonesia at the time of the President’s inauguration I discussed with him the particular circumstances of that vessel. Third, in relation to the question asked of me yesterday, I think by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, I stand by everything I said in that answer.