Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, it is an important issue, but I think Senator Colbeck incorrectly categorises the issue. He particularly incorrectly categorises the issue when he talks about victory, or for that matter defeat, in terms of getting 22 asylum seekers off the Oceanic Viking. This issue is not about whether we have a victory or a defeat as a government or as a country. This is about trying to sensibly resolve an issue on our northern coast. As a government we are trying to deal with this issue in a calm and humane way. We are trying to resolve what is a very difficult issue for this country. We are doing it, I think, in a sensible way which will not lead to either victory or defeat but hopefully lead to a sensible long-term outcome for this country.

Senator Colbeck suggests that the Oceanic Viking being in Indonesia at the moment affects our ability to deal with the issue of illegal fishing, particularly in the Southern Ocean. But the fact of the matter is that illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters has declined significantly over the last three years.