Canberra - Australian PM Tony Abbott has defended what critics have described as government secrecy over asylum policy. Officials have in recent days refused to comment on reports that Australian naval forces have turned back at least one boat to Indonesia.
Asylum-seeker accounts have also alleged mistreatment by navy personnel. Mr Abbott, who promised a tough line on the asylum issue when he took office, said restricting information flow boosted operational enforcement. "I'd rather be criticised for being a bit of a closed book on this issue and actually stop the boats," he told local media.
"The point is not to provide sport for public discussion. The point is to stop the boats. "I'm pleased to say it is now several weeks since we've had a boat, and the less we talk about operational details on the water, the better when it comes to stopping the boats."
The number of asylum boats travelling to Australia from Indonesia rose sharply in 2012 and the beginning of 2013. Indonesia serves as a transit point for people-smugglers, who ferry people mainly from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka to Christmas Island, the closest part of Australian territory, on rickety and over-crowded boats. Dozens of people have died making the journey in recent years.
In response, the Labor government reintroduced offshore processing on the Pacific island of Nauru and in Papua New Guinea's Manus Island. It also said that people found to be refugees would be settled in Papua New Guinea, not Australia. When Mr Abbott's Liberal-National Coalition ousted Labor in the 7 September general election, it initiated Operation Sovereign Borders, giving the military control over the response to people-smugglers.
The Labor government had provided a detailed breakdown of asylum arrivals and vessel-related incidents. But Mr Abbott's government has limited information to a weekly press briefing. In December the immigration minister appeared to suggest that this would be changed to a weekly e-mail.
Officials have refused to answer questions about reported incidents, citing operational needs. These have included recent reports - both from Australia and Indonesia - that the Australian navy turned at least one boat carrying asylum seekers back to Indonesia. (FA)
