Response to SMH editorial on people smuggling

Letter to the Editor - Sydney Morning Herald
28 November 2003

Dear Sir/Madam

You assume incorrectly in your editorial, Get serious about people smugglers (Friday 28 November) that because you are not aware of any investigation into the people smuggling aspects of this case that nothing is being done.

While the Department does not discuss ongoing operations, there were two options in this case - one was to keep the boat and crew here and prosecute, the other was to send them back to Indonesia making the smugglers' operation unsuccessful.

The latter was chosen and it successfully sent a powerful message to anyone thinking of undertaking one of these perilous journeys that people smugglers are out of business when it comes to getting people to Australia.

Yours sincerely,

Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA