Rudd, SBY to hold talks on people smuggling
The ABC News (Australia), March 9, 2010
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/10/2841315.htm
The president is on a three day visit to Australia that includes stops in Canberra and Sydney.
Before the address to Parliament he will meet with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to hold talks on stamping out people smuggling.
A spike in the number of asylum seeker boats reaching Australian waters makes people smuggling a central issue in relations between Indonesia and Australia.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has told Lateline Mr Rudd and Mr Yudhoyono will today formalise an agreement to stop the practice.
'It will also go to further cooperation on disruption and prevention,' he said.
'Whether it's people smuggling or people movement or people trafficking it is just one of the very many features of the very close relationship that we have with Indonesia.'
But Mr Smith says people should not expect the details of the agreement to be revealed.
'It does go to both operational matters and also to prevention and disruption organisational arrangements,' he said.
But Opposition Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says while cooperation is important, softer immigration policies are to blame for the surge in boats.
'Until the Rudd Government faces up to that reality then the boats will continue to arrive,' he said.
'The priority should be changing policies of his own making that rolled back the strong border protection regime he inherited from the Coalition.'
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Kevin Rudd and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plan to stop people smuggling
By Stephen Johnson and Karlis Salna
The Australian Associated Press, March 10, 2010
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/kevin-rudd-and-susilo-bambang-yudhoyonos-plan-to-stop-people-smuggling/story-fn3dxity-1225838919874
