Australian PM Admitted Stopping Asylum-Seekers ‘By Hook Or By Crook’

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to comment on reports claiming Australian navy paid asylum boat crews thousands of dollars to turn back to Indonesia.

The Prime Minister, at the same time also admitted that Australia would do whatever it takes to stop asylum-seekers from entering the country. An Indonesian police chief was quoted saying the crew members were given $US 5,000 ($AU 6,498) each by Australian officials to turn back a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers.

Though Australian Foreign Minister also denied the allegation of bribing crew members to return asylum seekers, Indonesia's foreign ministry was not really convinced.

While speaking with Macquarie Radio, Mr. Abbott didn’t get into the details of the allegation, saying the operational measures of the security agencies should not be discussed publicly.

"What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook, because that's what we've got to do and that's what we've successfully done," Mr. Abbott said.

"I am proud of the work our border protection agencies have done, I really am proud of the work that they've done and they've been incredibly creative in coming up with a whole range of strategies to break this evil trade,” the Prime Minister added.

Meanwhile, the Labor's immigration spokesman criticised the bribing method to shoo away asylum seekers, saying it was a "very dangerous development" that saw Navy vessels turning into "floating ATM". Greens immigration spokeswoman is also of the same opinion, said paying asylum boat crews could be violating domestic and international law.

Contact the writer on barsha23@gmail.com