Notice given 17 July 2007

*3404 Senator Milne: To ask the Minister for Justice and Customs—With reference to the answer provided to paragraph (4) of question no. 109 taken on notice by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) during the 2006-07 Budget estimates hearings of the Legal and Constitutional Committee and to the answer provided to question no. 113 taken on notice by the AFP during the 2006-07 additional estimates hearings of the committee:

(1) In regard to the ‘Australian officials’ who viewed the North Jakarta Harbourmaster’s report dated 22 October 2001, submitted as an attachment to the answer to paragraph (a) of question no. 113: (a) what are their names; (b) which department or agency did they represent; (c) were they the same officials who viewed ‘an Indonesian National Police (INP) Report dated 24 October 2001’; if not: (i) what are the names of those officials, and (ii) what department or agency did they represent; (d) on what date did they first view the North Jakarta Harbourmaster’s report dated 22 October 2001; (e) when did the AFP first become aware of the report; (f) on what date did the officials first view the Indonesian National Police (INP) report dated 24 October 2001; (g) when did the AFP first become aware of the INP report; and (h) when did the AFP first become aware of the rescue coordinates contained in the INP report.

(2) In regard to paragraph (d)(iv) of question no. 113 regarding the INP report dated 24 October 2001, given that the response did not answer the question: (a) on what date did the AFP request a copy of the document from the Indonesian police; (b) how was it requested, that is, was the request made verbally or in writing; and (c) if the request was made in writing, can a copy of the request be provided.

(3) In regard to paragraph (d)(ix) of question no. 113, is the report that was viewed by Captain Johnston of the Royal Australian Navy on 25 July 2002 the same report that the AFP referred to, in the answer to paragraph (4)(a) of question no. 109, as the ‘Indonesian National Police (INP) Report dated 24 October 2001’.

(4) In regard to paragraph (e) of question no. 113, given that the answer that was provided is unclear, in that it quoted from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade cable of 23 October 2001, ‘Indonesia: Sinking of Illegal Immigrant Vessel 0.JA25691 1049’, but the question was in regard to the validation of the coordinates of the rescue position, in regard to the estimated sinking position: (a) how did the AFP validate the coordinates of the rescue position; and (b) when were they validated.

(5) In regard to paragraph (f) of question no. 113: (a) which document contains ‘the coordinates that the SIEV X are believed to have sunk’; (b) what are coordinates; and (c) can a copy be provided of this document.

(6) In regard to the answers to paragraphs (h)(ii) to (v) of question no. 113 regarding the AFP’s efforts to locate the vessel that rescued the SIEV X survivors: (a) what are the ‘unforseen circumstances in Jakarta’ that mean that ‘[the question(s)] cannot be answered in the immediate future’; and (b) when is it anticipated that these questions can be answered.

(7) In regard to question no. 58 taken on notice during the 2002 03 supplementary budget estimates of the committee: (a) what was the ‘information obtained from Indonesian National Police … to calculate where the vessel may have foundered’; and (b) can a copy of this information be provided.

(8) In regard to the Indonesian Jakarta Harbourmaster’s report dated 22 October 2001, did the AFP, or any other Australian agency, attempt to locate Mr Majid, the captain of the Arta Kencana 38, mentioned in the report as the captain of the vessel that brought 44 of the 45 survivors to Jakarta on 22 October 2001; if not, why not, given that the information that the captain could provide on the rescue position could have been used to estimate the probable area of sinking; if so, can details be provided of the officials involved, what actions were undertaken and the dates these actions occurred.

(9) What was the earliest date that any AFP official heard, by any means, that the location of the rescue of SIEV X survivors was reported to be 07 40 00S / 105 09 00E.

X-URL:http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/Repository/Chamber/Notices/02080701.doc

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