Customs clear in boat tragedy at Christmas Island Steve Lewis National political correspondent From: The Daily Telegraph January 25, 2011
Replay: Asylum boat tragedy
THE Christmas Island boat tragedy that killed up to 40 asylum seekers was unavoidable, the Gillard Government said yesterday, as it unveiled plans to bolster surveillance to ensure the disaster is not repeated.
Customs has cleared itself of any wrongdoing in the deaths, with an internal review determining it had no "firm" evidence the rickety vessel was sailing to Christmas Island from Indonesia. Instead, it blamed "treacherous" weather which had whipped up huge seas and prevented two other vessels, carrying asylum seekers, from docking at the detention centre.

But survivors of the December 15 accident have accused the Government of a cover-up.

Jamal Daoud, from the Social Justice Network, said about 40 survivors were on a hunger strike on Christmas Island after being briefed on the report.

"We think it is a cover-up. Survivors are angry," he said.

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Related CoverageGallery: Boat crash
Crew 'upset' over asylum boat tragedy Perth Now, 4 hours ago
Mock vessels to test asylum-seeker radar The Australian, 8 hours ago
Customs clear of blame as crew charged The Daily Telegraph, 19 hours ago
'No intelligence' to avert boat disaster Adelaide Now, 1 day ago
No action by Gillard on Christmas Island The Australian, 6 days ago
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.


With the Government desperate to avoid any public fallout, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced plans to beef-up surveillance on the island while also unveiling plans for a full parliamentary inquiry.

Radar systems will be trialled on Christmas Island while new vessels operated by Australian Federal Police and the Department of Regional Australia will bolster border protection.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland said charges were close to being laid against peoplesmugglers responsible for the tragedy. He said an Australian operation - involving "substantial operators" - was likely to be caught in the police net.

"There is certainly a high likelihood of prosecutions happening and happening relatively quickly in this matter," he said.

The Coalition has called on the Government to overhaul its policies to avoid a repeat of the incident that saw 42 asylum seekers plucked from the ocean.

"It wasn't Customs that was responsible for what happened on that day - it was peoplesmugglers," Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said yesterday.

Mr McClelland laid the blame for the tragedy on "the treacherous" conditions with 4m waves, 40 knot winds and rain reducing visibility to 150m.

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its amazing isnt it.. they are all allowed to investigate themselves.really puts your mind at rest.

I have read the report and the dead hand of sarah palin gets a mention.

gizmo_2655 wrote on Jan 25^th, 2011 at 8:38pm:



Yet Afghans are helping to drive the boat trafficers because of the civil war happening in their home land. End the war, end one of the push factors.

Be nice to get a break before the Human Caused Climate Change Refugees start migrating.

Be nice to get a break, says woody, by which I take him to mean he is fed up with the never ending procession of illegals.
Good to have you on side with the rational people for a change woody.

____ wrote on Jan 27^th, 2011 at 2:59pm:


Is that why the Greens think welfare for the disabled is "UNSUSTAINABLE'?  so they can bring in more refo's and immigrants to replace Aussies deemed "Unfit"?