Transcript

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Australian Federal Police Commissioner and Acting Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders Joint Agency Task Force address press conference on Operation Sovereign Borders

11 October 2013

TRANSCRIPTION: PROOF COPY E & OE

TOPICS: Operation Sovereign Borders, Government crackdown on those abusing community release

SCOTT MORRISON: Welcome to the weekly briefing of Operation Sovereign Borders. Today I'm joined once again by Acting Commander Binskin, and for the first time today Commissioner Negus.

Operation Sovereign Borders is not just about offshore processing and maritime operations. It is about disruption and deterrence throughout the region and as well as breaking up networks of support for the criminals who are engaged in people smuggling here in Australia.

This element of the Joint Agency Taskforce, or the JATF, is led by the AFP under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Lancaster. Those who may be in Australia should know this in terms of providing support to people smugglers: If you're supporting people smugglers by paying them, even on behalf of family members, providing contacts or information, referring people to smugglers or providing any form of assistance, you can expect to come to the attention of the Australian Federal Police. If you're on any form of visa here in this country and are convicted of an offence relating to that support, you will also lose your visa. You owe it to family members not to help them get on a boat but to stop them getting on a boat.

This past week has seen our dialogue with Indonesian officials continue in preparation for my first meeting with Air Chief Marshal Suyanto. This morning Acting Commander Binskin and commissioner Negus and Special Envoy Molan all returned from Jakarta from the latest of these discussions. This afternoon I will meet with the Indonesian Minister for Law and Human Rights, His Excellency Amir Syamsuddin, who is responsibility for immigration, where we'll continue this dialogue, all aimed at building up operational understandings between our Governments within a broader framework of strategic trust.

On Wednesday evening I returned from a two day visit to Nauru where I had the opportunity to once again meet with the President, cabinet ministers, and senior opposition members, as I have done on many occasions when in opposition. I held extensive discussions also with our service providers on operational issues, I inspected facilities and the expansion works previously announced from this podium that are now under way. I also toured the hospital and spoke to local health officials. And most importantly, I visited the centres both for single adult males and for family groups to deliver a very direct message to both of those groups that under the new Government, they will not be coming to Australia, they will not be getting what they came for, that the people smugglers had ripped them off and they must now make decisions about what they do next, and the Australian Government, together with Nauruan Government will facilitate them returning home if they choose to do so.

On Nauru, expansion is also well under way and we are able to meet any demand on those centres that may be presented. The two day transfer target is quickly translating into smooth practice and process for arrivals. I want to commend all of the team for the excellent work they have done, together with our partners on Nauru and on Manus Island and the PNG Government, that have assisted with the implementation of the new Government's policies in this respect.

Making sure offshore processing is applied universally without exceptions, having people transferred promptly and getting the follow-up measures and procedures in place to facilitate removal is critical. This is what offshore processing is all about. It's not just about having some tents on an island, it is about ensuring that you can actually implement the purpose of these policies, and the implementation focus of the new Government is making a very significant difference to how these centres are operating.

More than 2,000 people who arrived under the previous Government were not transferred to offshore processing by that Government who arrived post July 19. The vast majority, the overwhelming vast majority, of those who have arrived since the establishment of Operation Sovereign Borders have all been sent to Nauru or Manus Island or are in another removal pathway or process because of the nature of their arrival. In particular I refer to a group that we mentioned from this podium a few weeks ago where there were claims about their Indian nationality. It's all about implementation when it comes to this operation, not about announcements.

On Nauru, we commenced the process also to put in place a five year arrangement, to regularise our operations on Nauru and provide greater certainty and stability for all the parties involved in these operations and for both governments. This is in stark contrast to the pre-election position where, for example, there was no operational funding provided by the previous Government for the operation of offshore processing centres from 1 January next year. A five year agreement recognises that post assessment, people will remain on Nauru. Our operations go beyond processing, those who have turned up in Australia illegally on boats, they go to the issue of post processing accommodation. Critical to that initiative is to establish that accommodation. The previous government had made no provision or plans to accommodate people after their processing was completed on Nauru or on Manus Island, for that matter.

This week we agreed to commence the planning and consultation process in Nauru to establish post-processing accommodation for families in Nauru. We have also commenced planning for the accommodation where works are already under way on Manus Island at the East Lorengau site for that to be used as post-processing accommodation for single adult males, so post-processing accommodation on Nauru for families, post-processing accommodation on Manus Island for single adult males, and further options are being looked at on both locations.

Persons found not to be refugees will remain in the camps until they go home. Without this accommodation in place for post-processing, the threat of people not coming to Australia was hollow and without substance. By moving to establish these facilities, the Abbott Government can back up our policy that says you will not be coming to Australia, and we mean what we say. Our discussion on the five year arrangement will also address infrastructure and service needs on Nauru, in particular in relation to the hospital and utilities plant. Such facilities will provide a significant legacy for the people of Nauru as a result of the establishment of those facilities.

Nauru is already realising the benefits of the operation of these centres. I was pleased to learn while I was there that more than 600 direct jobs have been taken up by Nauruan’s throughout these facilities directly. The centres are now the second largest employer on Nauru after their own Government. Progress has also been made on staff accommodation, the HMAS Choules currently providing accommodation for staff at the Manus Island centre, is scheduled to depart on 31 October. Bibby Progress, a moored maritime accommodation platform, will take over this role and will arrive prior to the Choules’ departure for the changeover. It can accommodate over 300 staff.

On Nauru, more than 125 beds have been handed over for staff accommodation from the first phase of the staff accommodation development project at Anibare Bay on Nauru. I had an opportunity to inspect that new accommodation on Wednesday. This will add important new capacity to enable us to ramp up operations. By expanding the centres, it's not just about providing the places in the centres themselves, you need to be able to put the staff accommodation in place to support the expansion of the centres and that's what's occurring. The second half of those accommodation places for staff will be handed over before the end of the month.

In other matters, finally, I note that yesterday I met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, where we discussed the regional dimensions to the people smuggling and border protection related issues, including maritime issues, and I welcome that visit and I wish the minister well for the events that are taking place in Sydney this weekend, sponsored by the Singaporean Government.

With that, I will pass you onto the Acting Commander Binskin to provide his report, and then Commissioner Negus.

MARK BINSKIN: Thank you, Minister. This is the Operation Sovereign Borders weekly briefing for the period nine o'clock Friday 4th October until nine o'clock this morning. And it is a week that we've had consistent weather with what we would normally see over the periods annually, so it has been a good weather period up around the operational areas.

During the reporting period, there were no arrivals transferred to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and this means that in the first three weeks of Operation Sovereign Borders, there has been a total of 215 arrivals transferred. However, you will be aware as of late yesterday a boat arrived at Cocos Keeling Islands. Consistent with normal practice for these reports, the number of people on board this vessel will be reflected in the next report once those people have been processed at Christmas Island. I do want to emphasise, though, that the people who came to Australia on board this boat by now already understand that they will not be settled in Australia.

For the reporting period, a total of 111 people were transferred to offshore processing centres, and all these people were transferred to Manus. Since the commencement of Operation Sovereign Borders on 18 September 2013 until nine o'clock this morning, a total of 402 people have been transferred to offshore processing centres. That's 115 people transferred to Nauru, all people from family groups, and 287 people transferred to Manus. In addition, 47 people who arrived before 8 September were transferred to offshore processing centres between 18 and 20 September.

As at nine o'clock this morning, there are a total of 1059 people at Manus and 800 people at Nauru, and there were 2,176 people in the Christmas Island facilities. Also at nine o'clock this morning, there were 94 minors in family groups accommodated at Nauru, and we have sufficient offshore processing capacity to meet the transfer requirements for the future.

In other operational activities, with the disruption and deterrence task group, they've been working with Indonesia to provide interpreting and investigative assistance in relation to ongoing operations. Lebanese authorities working with the task group have arrested five persons for questioning in relation to the recent tragic event off the west coast of Java. The task group has also been providing operational support to police in Sri Lanka and is working with regional partners in Vietnam and Malaysia to increase law enforcement capacity and enhance information sharing arrangements. And I will let Commissioner Negus provide more of an update on those aspects in a minute.

I would also like to proudly acknowledge the operational release of the Australian Customs and Border Protection vessel, Cape St George. Cape St George is the first of a class of improved cape class patrol boats, purposely built for patrolling Australia's vast open coastlines. The operational release of this vessel will occur tomorrow, after which Cape St George will deploy in support of Operation Sovereign Borders. Tomorrow's milestone is a positive example of the advanced maritime capability positioned at the border in support of Operation Sovereign Borders.

I will conclude today's briefing by re-stating that we are involved in a complex border security operation, and the taskforce remains committed to stopping people smuggling and ultimately saving lives and I would like to thank those in the taskforce for their support to me for the operation over the last two weeks.

Thank you very much. I will hand over to Commissioner Negus.

TONY NEGUS: Thanks Mark and good afternoon everyone. As you've heard, we've just returned from Indonesia this morning, Air Marshal Binskin and myself. In Indonesia we had very positive discussions with the chief of the Indonesian National Police, my friend and colleague Timur Pradopo, where he re-committed his support to supporting Australia to stamp out people smuggling in the region.

During the last few weeks, since 8 September specifically, there have been 17 disruptions in Indonesia where over 550 passengers have been stopped getting onto boats. That's as a result of the co-operative relationship between the AFP, other agencies here in Australia, and Indonesian National Police. The Indonesian National Police have also made eight arrests, five crew members from the boats that I've just talked about, but also, importantly, three high value targets, these are people who are facilitators and organisers within Indonesia who put people on those boats to start with. These people are yet to go to court, but will be charged with multiple ventures, and organising multiple ventures to this country.

Also, importantly, just yesterday they issued an arrest warrant for a very significant people smuggler in Indonesia who will be tracked down over coming weeks, and should appear in court very soon, we hope.

Just on the domestic front, and the Minister mentioned the AFP's domestic operations and how important it is to re-affirm to people that they should not be involved in supporting people smuggling in this country, four people have been arrested here in Australia over the last few months and charged with associated offences relating to 132 vessels reaching the Australian coastline. These people are now before the courts but I can assure you we have multiple investigations ongoing within Australia, and we expect further arrests within the coming weeks. And I can just reiterate what that Minister said, that these people could face substantial periods in jail with maximum sentences of up to ten years imprisonment. And with that I will leave it, and hand it back to the Minister.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thank you, Commissioner. Questions?

JOURNALIST: Have any boats been stopped and turned around in the past week?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, as you know, the practice in these briefings is not to comment on operations that may jeopardise current or future operations. So, I won't be making comments on those matters and that's the same policy we've followed in every briefing.

JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] any boats that have been intercepted?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, we report on when vessels have been transferred in Immigration custody and that's the nature of the briefing provided here.

JOURNALIST: Are you going to tell us, the people that came to Manus Island, were they Sri Lankan?

SCOTT MORRISON: We don't comment on the nationalities for operational reasons, and the commander might want to comment on that, but equally, the commander made the point that at this stage they haven't been processed on Christmas Island yet, and so until we know who is there and the exact numbers and those sorts of things, it's not appropriate to give the type of normal briefing we would give on those vessels and that's why you will see that report come in a future briefing, Acting Commander, do you want to comment on that?

MARK BINSKIN: We don't comment on the nationalities, or speculate.

JOURNALIST: Customs used to comment as soon as they found out-

MARK BINSKIN: -Yeah, they used to, but that's not under Operation Sovereign Borders.

SCOTT MORRISON: Operation Sovereign Borders has a different set of rules. We are not doing things like the previous Government used to. Under the previous Government, more than 50,000 people turned up illegally on boats, we're not going to use the previous Government's approach as a model for our operations.

JOURNALIST: Is that a decision that's taken on the advice of experts or is that a decision that was taken by Government?

SCOTT MORRISON: It's a decision of the JATF.

MARK BINSKIN: And that's consistent with when the JATF stood up three weeks ago.

JOURNALIST: Have any boats been stopped in Indonesian waters, or on transit by Indonesian authorities after being alerted by Australia?

MARK BINSKIN: I will just clarify again, we are not going to talk about operational measures or operational activities. We will give a summary each week of those boats and those personnel or people that have been transferred to Australian immigration authorities, that's it. We're not going to give our posture or talk about our tactics or our techniques or what's happening on the water because that gives away key intelligence information to the people smugglers and we don't want to give these criminals that sort of information.

JOURNALIST: Does that blackout also extend to vessels that might be in distress? I notice that the AMSA website used to put out campaign notices distress signals. That doesn't seem to be happening anymore-

MARK BINSKIN: -No, AMSA won't give that level of operational information, however, that doesn't mean that they don't transmit information to maritime vessels in the area to assist, so it does not impact in any way our ability to respond to any search or rescue situation, we're just not broadcasting that to the world when it's happening.

JOURNALIST: So there's just no transparency, the boats in distress, no one's going to know about them?

MARK BINSKIN: No, actually the relevant authorities and those who are in a position to provide assistance do know, so there is no impact on the rescuing of those people, but we do report in our weekly report here if there was a search and rescue event. So, there's transparency, you will know if there is a search and rescue event in that period.

JOURNALIST: Can we assume from that there was no rescue?

SCOTT MORRISON: I don't think you should - you can make whatever assumptions that you like.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, just following on from your last question.

MARK BINSKIN: So in the period of the last week those people that have arrived - none - there is a boat that, as we said, that has arrived off Cocos Island, we'll report those details next week when we have all the details to be able to report. If I haven't reported it, it hasn't happened.

JOURNALIST: There's one boat, that's it.

MARK BINSKIN: There's one boat off-

JOURNALIST: -[Indistinct]-

MARK BINSKIN: -So I provide a summary of the weekly activities for those unauthorised maritime arrivals who have processed into Christmas Island and the details around that.

SCOTT MORRISON: And I make the point-

JOURNALIST: -[Indistinct] people have the right [indistinct] talk about the people on Cocos Island.

MARK BINSKIN: No, and that's as I said in my statement. So in the next week - we're transparent, but we do work a time line, nine o'clock to none o'clock, that's to stay consistent with the reporting, otherwise people start to get mixed up with additional numbers or less numbers. That's why we're keeping that consistent reporting period.

SCOTT MORRISON: I note that vessel which the Acting Commander referred to, which, you know, once we have processed the people and we know how many there are, et cetera, and the breakdown, so we can take whatever decisions come next, I should stress that anyone who would have come from somewhere like Sri Lanka would face the same, and I strongly suggest an even more stringent process of screening and screen-out and those who are screened out will go back to Sri Lanka. And so anyone who may have come from Sri Lanka should know that they will go back to Sri Lanka.

We have an arrangement with the Sri Lankan Government and this Government will certainly be taking that arrangement very seriously and will be ensuring that we maximise those who go back and preferably they will all go back.

JOURNALIST: Just in regards to nationality how is that operational security when in fact if you do would it send a message back to places like Sri Lanka, why can't you identify...?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, I just sent a message to the people of Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST: But with the boats that come in, not identifying what nationality they are.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, this is the difference. From this podium, you're not going to get those sorts of threats. What will happen is that people will know the experience of what our policies are. The most effective way a message is conveyed is not on YouTube by governments. It's actually by the lived experience of those who are subjected to our policies and those individuals will know what has taken place and those individuals will relay those stories.

This is exactly the way it worked back when the Howard Government implemented those policies then. There were no YouTube videos back then and there wouldn't have been, even if they existed back then. The lived experience of people confronting our policies and our resolve is what makes the difference.

JOURNALIST: Just in regards to Nauru, do we know how many pregnant women are on Nauru and what are the facilities like for giving birth and support services there?

SCOTT MORRISON: I'm happy to give you some breakdown of what the facilities are like. We don't go into the commentary on the individual numbers of people and the breakdown, but I can tell you - if you just bear with me - there are two delivery beds - I've visited the maternity wing on several occasions when I've been to Nauru. There are two delivery beds, six post natal beds and a special care baby unit. The hospital has the capacity to perform caesarean sections and other surgical interventions and has pain relief options available to it. There are currently nine midwives who are supported by a senior medical officer and a general paediatrician supports neonatal care.

I should also stress that around 360 babies are born every year in that hospital and the midwives are probably some of the most experienced you've probably found working under those conditions. So on top of that there is also the support provided by IHMS who constantly monitor anyone's condition who may find themselves in that situation, but I need to stress there are no exceptions to offshore processing. Offshore processing is an effective policy when it's applied universally, when people are sent there quickly, when there are the measures in place to ensure people are facilitated for removal.

That's what offshore processing is. It's just not having a camp on an island.

JOURNALIST: Mr Negus, are you able to provide any more details about this arrest warrant that has been issued? Is that - can you identify the individual or can you identify the allegations that are at their door?

TONY NEGUS: Look, no, I can't. Suffice to the say the arrest warrant has been issued. There's a significant process that is undertaken to gather sufficient evidence to convince the court to issue the equivalent of an arrest warrant in Indonesia. I wouldn't want to telegraph the identity of that person because he is now being sought by Indonesian police throughout the region.

So we're confident we have a good lead on this individual, but he is a significant smuggler in his own right.

JOURNALIST: Is he an Australian?

TONY NEGUS: No he's not but I wouldn't want to go any further into his identity in that context.

JOURNALIST: Maybe you could tell us about your disruption techniques in the last couple of - few weeks. What's different since 8 September to what you used to do?

TONY NEGUS: Look, consistent with what the Minister said, we really can't divulge what our techniques are. Again, we're telegraphing our punches to the people smugglers. Suffice to say that we've doubled the number of people in Indonesia. AFP offices in that location are now working every day with their colleagues, their Indonesian counterparts, providing support, providing intelligence, and providing operational expertise in the context of how these operations should be run. And I've got to say that the Indonesians are stepping up to the plate and doing a very good job.

I should stress-

SCOTT MORRISON: -In answer to your question, one of the things that has changed is the level of funding support that we're working through to ensure that the federal police and other agencies that are working in the region have the resources they need to do this job and don't have to beg, borrow and steal from other parts of their budget to try and maintain their presence in the region, as was previously the case. So they are getting the support they need, they are getting everything they need and we're going continually through the process of ensuring that they can be equipped and resourced to do the job.

JOURNALIST: Just one more question. So you're getting more funding. Does that mean there will be a return to the days where you payed informants in Indonesia to tell you what was going on or [indistinct]?

TONY NEGUS: Look, the use of human sources or informants, as you call them, is a common practise of policing worldwide. So we'll continue to use that where it's appropriate.

JOURNALIST: But will you pay them?

TONY NEGUS: Where it's appropriate, we'll continue to use them and we use the techniques which are available and transparent under our own legislation and our own rules.

JOURNALIST: Will that be transparent? Will you put the amount of money that you pay informants into your annual report?

TONY NEGUS: No, look, each police agency, and this happens around the world, have protocols in place, very strong protocols I might say, to manage that issue, to make sure it's done properly and appropriately and properly recorded in a way that can be looked at later on if there are issues that come up. So we will continue to do that as we have done over many years.

JOURNALIST: And will that be public?

TONY NEGUS: No it won't be, because you can imagine the amount of interventions and involvement with informants. If they start becoming public, those resources dry up very quickly.

JOURNALIST: Commissioner, the 550 people you mentioned earlier have been stopped from getting on boats to come here, were they all from camps or were they from various areas?

TONY NEGUS: Look, a mixture - and this is done by the Indonesian National Police, I might add - but those people go into care of immigration in Indonesia and the IOM. So again, they were stopped in preparation from getting onto boats and people have been arrested who were facilitating those boats at that time.

JOURNALIST: In regards to transit ports of the Indonesians, have you had discussions there? Where's all that up to?

SCOTT MORRISON: Look, as I said last week, we have never made any announcement about transit ports in Indonesia, that's an assumption the media have made. The government has made no such statement at any time. So the premise of the question I suppose falls as way.

JOURNALIST: Mr Morrison, can I ask you about the practice of withholding visas from detainees who commit offences while in detention. How serious should an offence be before someone's visa is cancelled or refused and should such factors as mental health be taken into consideration when considering why people offend while in detention?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, that frankly sits outside of Operation Sovereign Borders but I'm happy to respond to it. As you know, the new government has taken a very strong position on those who have been charged with what can be quite serious offences. We've got charges for murder; we've got charges for assault, for rape, for interference with children. They all get taken back into detention immediately under our policies where we are advised that such charges are being laid by the police and the working relationship we have with the state police is improving by the day and I will be meeting with commissioners on Monday to continue to progress that purpose.

The character test under the act is very clear about what the powers are to cancel visas under section 501. There are criminal conduct provisions in the act specifically and that also deals with offences committed while in detention or while someone may have absconded from detention and that just requires a custodial sentence. So-

JOURNALIST: -So you wouldn't accept that for someone who is on a good behaviour bond? You wouldn't [indistinct] that?

SCOTT MORRISON: If people commit crimes who are on visas, they should expect a very strong message from me as minister and from this government in terms of how we look at their continued presence in Australia. I have a very low tolerance for those who commit crimes who are on visas. If people are on a visa, they are here at the courtesy of the Australian Government and the Australian people. If they want to breach that courtesy, then they shouldn't expect a response which is favourable.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, Minister, people who are - have committed, not people who are alleged to have committed-

SCOTT MORRISON: -Well, there is also a general character test under the act and there are a range of other provisions that go to the character test and each case is assessed on its merits and that's the duty I have as a minister, but I think the general principle should be well understood. But if we could take it back to OSB matters because that relates to people already here, on any form of visa for that matter.

JOURNALIST: Do you have any interest in re-introducing mandatory sentencing for individuals who are found to have crewed boats to Australia.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, those provisions exist.

JOURNALIST: But they're not being implemented at the moment.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, the sentencing provisions exist and they have just been upheld by the High Court. I will leave it to the Attorney-General to make comments on the case more specifically, but the court found - the court finding made it quite clear that the validity of minimum mandatory sentencing is quite valid under the act and so that remains the law of this country and people should not expect that they would somehow be immune from those laws under a Coalition Government.

JOURNALIST: Just a question [indistinct]. Did you have to place an expenses [indistinct]?

SCOTT MORRISON: There was an inadvertent claim that was made which has been rectified.

JOURNALIST: Can you give any more detail on that?

SCOTT MORRISON: I can tell you there was an inadvertent claim, that it was made, and it has been rectified.

JOURNALIST: Was it [indistinct] travel in 2011?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes.

JOURNALIST: And how much?

SCOTT MORRISON: It was a pay back of $354.

JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] High Court's decision. What's your reaction to that?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, again I will leave that to the Attorney-General to provide a specific response on behalf of the government if he chooses to, but we welcome the fact that those laws which provide minimum mandatory sentences for those who break our laws on people smuggling remain lawful and remain valid and if people seek to break those laws, then they should expect to face the consequences of those penalties.

JOURNALIST: Air Marshal, I'm sorry, [indistinct] there were five arrests by the [indistinct]. Where they in Lebanon? It sounds like a stupid question [indistinct]

MARK BINSKIN: No, that's okay. I'll hand over to my colleague, I think, for an idea of the best of the details.

JOURNALIST: [Indistinct]

MARK BINSKIN: No, I said it, but I'll hand over the expert.

TONY NEGUS: Yes, they were. Those people have been arrested for questioning in relation to the incident off West Java that the Air Marshal mentioned earlier.

JOURNALIST: On information supplied by Australians?

TONY NEGUS: No, not necessarily. We are working with them to see were there are any Australian links but they're working on their own and with Indonesian authorities as well.

JOURNALIST: Has the Abbott Government made any progress on developing mandatory behaviour protocols for asylum seekers?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, again, that sits outside Operation Sovereign Borders but I can tell you that we have been making progress on that. I made an announcement last week - sorry, earlier this week about that and those protocols are in development for consideration by the government. I'm still waiting to see those protocols come forward, but that goes on the back of the decision we've already taken to provide addresses of where people are to the police and that's in the process of being actioned now. And in addition to that, there is the zero tolerance policy on those who are charged with an offence to be immediately taken back into detention where we are aware that such charges have been laid.

And that's where we're getting very good cooperation from police and I extend my appreciation to all of the commissioners around the country who I will see on Monday who have been very swift to try to put those procedures in place so we are notified when things happen.

JOURNALIST: Minister, you mentioned additional amount of funding for the Australian Federal Police. Is that conditional to their current funding levels? In other words, are you giving extra crash?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes.

JOURNALIST: So this is over and above their normal operational requirements?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes, well, that process will be announced through the course of the budget and other matters.

JOURNALIST: [Indistinct]

SCOTT MORRISON: Not at this stage, no. What I am saying is, and we are still working through some of those elements since the Operation Sovereign Borders began which was only a few weeks, I should stress, but that is one of the things we've been working through with the police and other agencies to ensure they're properly resourced to do what we are asking them to do. And their resourcing in these areas have withered under the previous government and we need to restore that to restore the presence and frankly the support to those who are doing what are very difficult jobs.

And it is also very important in terms of our relationship with Indonesia. The relationship between the AFP and Polri is a model for all levels of cooperation and the Acting Commander might want to comment on this because he has a lot of experience with the relationship at a defence level and those two areas of cooperation is what we are seeking to bridge into a whole range of other areas in the relationship with Indonesia.

MARK BINSKIN: The visit - I was very impressed. As you'd realise from my vice chief job I have to lot to do in the relationship with Indonesia military to military which is a good relationship, but I was very impressed yesterday talking with the Polri higher command element and the relationship that obviously exists between the AFP and the IMP in Indonesia. It's a very, very good relationship. And that across all the task group, their relationship with their counterparts in Indonesia, is a good model to go for and that's what we're going to achieve.

But across the board the cooperation at the moment with Indonesia is very good and they're very positive towards working together as was outlined with Prime Minister Abbott and President Yudhoyono's statement after their meeting a couple of weeks ago.

SCOTT MORRISON: We've got time for one or two more and then-

JOURNALIST: -[Indistinct] and you spoke to the asylum seekers there, the refugees, [indistinct]-

SCOTT MORRISON: -Asylum seekers, yeah.

JOURNALIST: Asylum seekers. They would not be coming to Australia. How did they react?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, that's for them to-

JOURNALIST: -No, I meant from your point of view, how did they react?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, they got the message. I was pleased to learn while I was there that there are around 30 people who are already now in the process of looking to go back from where they've come from, and from similar discussions I had, I wouldn't call them discussions, I was there to deliver a message, not to get into a debate, and from those other discussions on Manus Island there was a fairly big spike in inquiries to the IOM about returning to their country.

We are - I made mention of this last week, we are working with the IOM right now to increase their presence on both Nauru and Manus Island both in terms of the number of people they have there to facilitate the request to return but also the back office support and office accommodation and facilities support that they need to hold those discussions with people looking to go home in a discreet location so they can have those conversations in full confidence.

And the second part of that is to try and remove any obstacles or administrative issues that would in any way slowdown that process of return. Offshore processing you know is working when people decide to go home. Remember, 30 per cent of those who went through the Pacific solution last time decided to go home voluntarily, and they're the sort of targets, if not higher, we're working towards.

Last question?

JOURNALIST: Just in regards to - have there been many cases of reports of self-harm on either Manus or Nauru since beginning of Operation Sovereign?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, obviously I get reports on these things and they're matters operational and for this reason - you won't hear this government giving oxygen to that type of behaviour, because it runs the risk of endorsing that behaviour or encouraging that behaviour. So that is not something you'll hear me discussing at these briefings because it doesn't help those who are running the centres.

This is all about the operations of these place and how they can work best and it was a good opportunity again to meet with the full cast of service providers up in Nauru as I did on Manus, so we're talking about the Salvation Army, Save the Children, the security agencies, security guard agencies, Transfield and others and providers and to just work through the practical issues of making things work on the ground.

And the more they can just get on with their business of providing care and support in those places, to work with the local host government in terms of the processing arrangements which is run by the local host government, not by a Australia, that is how we can best assist that process work well.

But on that note can I particularly thank Acting Commander Binskin for the work he's done in these two critical weeks of the establishment of Operation Sovereign Borders. We're looking forward to the return of Lieutenant General next week, Lieutenant General Campbell and we look forward to having him back on deck as part of this program. So thank you very much Acting Commander.

You've provided a very steady hand in this operation in its early phases and we really appreciate the work that you've done and working together. I'm sure that in your other role there'll continue to be a lot of facilitation with the JATF. And Commissioner Negus, thank you very much for being here with us here today. I hope that also demonstrates the breadth of the coverage of this issue.

And let me finish on this one point and it was how Acting Commander Binskin finished his remarks, and that's what this operation is all about. You were asking me before about pregnant women, I can extend the same comment to children or anyone else. The most dangerous place for a pregnant woman to be is on a boat coming to Australia. That's the most dangerous place to be. The most dangerous place for a child to be is on one of those boats coming to Australia. These measures, these operations are about stopping that from happening.

Thank you.