Media Release
Federal leader of the Palmer United Party Clive Palmer today called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to speak with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about its enforcement of maritime laws.
“Regardless of Australia’s asylum seekers policy, basic maritime laws aren’t being enforced by Indonesia,” Mr Palmer said.
“This is a serious matter and the Prime Minister must not skirt around the issue of basic maritime laws governing life jackets, seaworthiness, maritime safety and passenger numbers per vessel.”
“In the final analysis what matters most is human lives and protecting people who can’t protect themselves like the kids who are just following their parents.”
“All governments around the world have the responsibility to ensure that maritime laws are fully enforced.”
“Thousands of lives have been lost on the transit from Indonesia to Australia and this has occurred because basic things like these maritime laws have not been enforced.”
“The Prime Minister needs to take it up with President Yudhoyono to ensure these basic laws are enforced. If they had been, we would not have seen the carnage on the oceans that we have seen.”
ENDS