Senator Sherry asked:

SIEV X

• Can the Minister confirm that he told Channel 10 television in June 2002, regarding the sinking of the boat known as 'SIEV X',

  Now we don't know precisely where it sank - we never did...

• Can the Minister confirm that now-declassified intelligence documents prepared for him by his Department, dated 23 October 2001, clearly indicate that the boat sank approximately 60 nautical miles south of the Sunda Strait in international waters?
• Can the Minister confirm that he read these intelligence documents at the time they were prepared?
• If not, why not?
• If yes, can the Minister advise why he made such a claim to Channel 10 given the existence of these intelligence documents?

Answer:

My Department's media unit has not been able to locate a record of an interview on Channel 10 television in June 2002.

The DIMIA intelligence note produced on Tuesday 23 October, four days after the vessel known as SIEV X sank, reflected Coastwatch advice that the vessel sank approximately 60 nautical miles south of the Sunda Strait. [For DIMA DIN see p1, p2, p3]

This estimate was based on a probable southern Sumatra departure point, and an average sailing speed for such a vessel. The vessel was also believed to have sheltered from storms in the lee of an island while en route. This indirect route combined with storms in the area and the strong currents prevalent in the Sunda Strait, make it difficult to determine the vessel's course and position. Apart from the accounts of survivors, no subsequent information received by DIMIA further clarified the location of the boat's sinking.

My office received the report from DIMIA on 23 October 2001, however, I was travelling interstate on that day.