Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—It has come to my attention this evening that a case is being brought in relation to the events of SIEV 221, bringing an action against the government.

I just wanted to say that when things of this nature happen that it is obviously a free country and people have a right to bring whatever matters they wish to before the courts. But I just want to send a very clear message to all the members of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and all of those personnel of our Navy who serve as part of Border Protection Command, that those who served on that terrible day back on 15 December in that terrible incident, have our absolute respect and our absolute confidence. They have been rightly praised for their heroism and their bravery in what they did on that terrible morning, to save the number of lives that they did in that terrible, terrible incident.

These matters will go through the courts as they will in a free country. But I just want every one of those men and women who serve in our Border Protection Command, whether that is at sea or in other places, that they have the respect of the government and, I am quite sure, the respect of the opposition as well. This event occurred under the time of the previous government. I know that the then ministers—I have no doubt—would join me in supporting the good work of our people in the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Navy who form part of Border Protection Command.