Sun 16 Feb 2014
Video: Scott Morrison speaks with Insiders (Insiders)
Photo: Scott Morrison says the report will be shared with Indonesia before being released publicly. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says an internal report on Australian intrusions into Indonesian waters will be shared with Indonesia before it is released publicly.
Mr Morrison says the Customs-Defence report confirms Australian border protection ships inadvertently entered Indonesian waters during Operation Sovereign Borders.
He revealed last month the Navy had breached Indonesian waters on several occasions.
Speaking on the ABC's Insiders program this morning, Mr Morrison reiterated the intrusions were unintentional and said the review findings would be shared with Indonesia before being made public.
"The first thing we did when this was brought to our attention is that our Chief of Navy spoke to his counterpart in Indonesia and had a lengthy discussion," Mr Morrison said.
"There will be further discussions along those lines in relation to this report.
"It was inadvertent, it was contrary to the Government's policy and a thorough report and review has been conducted.
"We'll be sharing that with our counterparts in Indonesia."
Mr Morrison refused to reveal how many ships breached Indonesian waters.
"This is the subject of a report which has gone to the CDF (Chief of the Defence Force) and has gone to the chief executive of Customs and the appropriate way for it to be released is how they've determined," he said.
"I'm not going to pre-empt the report."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the Government is addicted to secrecy.
"We have our military forces who are subject to rumour and innuendo because of addiction to secrecy by the Abbott Government," he told reporters in Adelaide, where he was launching Labor's state election campaign.
"They should trust the Australian people with information."
Indonesia welcome to raise concerns with US: Morrison
Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa has said he will raise Australia's asylum seeker policy during talks with United States secretary of state John Kerry, who arrived in Jakarta today.
Dr Natalegawa has taken particular issue with the Navy sending asylum seekers back in lifeboats.
He called in Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, to discuss the matter.
Mr Morrison said Indonesia is welcome to raise concerns about Australia's border protection policies with the US, but the Government remains determined to stop asylum seeker boats coming to Australia.
He said what is discussed between Indonesia and the US is a matter for them.
"We've held a very consistent dialogue with Indonesia over all of these issues and that's been continuing and it will continue into the future," he said.
"But one of the long-standing irritants of this relationship has been this issue of vessels coming to Australia.
"We're addressing that. We have now gone over eight weeks without one successful people-smuggling venture reaching Australia.
"Now that is news I welcome. It's news I hope all Australians welcome."
