Minister Morrison’s misleading and unfounded attacks on families of the SIEV 221 suing the Australian government reveal his complete lack of concern for saving lives at sea.
“The same Minister that issued misleading statements after the death of Reza Barati on Manus Island, is now guilty of making false comments about the legal case against the Commonwealth. It seems that the Minister is not actually familiar with the legal case. The families are not suing the navy or their rescuers on the day,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“What the legal case is highlighting is the negligence of the Commonwealth and the complete lack of preparation or adequate rescue facilities or equipment on Christmas Island that could have avoided the tragedy. If the Minister was really concerned with safety of life at sea he would welcome the court case.
“That lack of preparation also put navy and other civilian lives at risk. It may be the case that navy personnel also have a claim against the Commonwealth for the same reasons.
“The authorities knew that a boat was on its way and expected its arrival–yet nothing was in place to ensure the safety of the people on that boat. Indeed the so-called rescue boats on Christmas Island were non-operational.
“Consecutive governments had ignored the finding of an earlier coronial inquiry into two other deaths at sea off Christmas Island. More recent inquiries have also established that the border protection authorities do not prioritise saving lives at sea.
“The Minister’s ill-informed bluster over this legal case reveals that nothing has changed. The claim to be concerned with saving lives at sea is just a convenient excuse for cruel policies to deny protection to those who need it.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
