(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison denies there's been a mid-ocean standoff between Australia and Indonesia over the transfer of possible asylum-seekers.
It hasn't been decided which country will take responsibility for about 56 people aboard a boat which issued a distress call near Indonesia yesterday.
The Australian government is not commenting on the supposed stoush.
(Click on audio tab above to hear full item)
An Australian customs vessel went to the aid of the potential asylum-seeker boat about 57 nautical miles off the coast of Java.
Rather than take those on board to Christmas Island for processing, Australia is believed to have tried to return the passengers to Indonesia.
It's something that's happened on several occasions since the Coalition took power but this time Jakarta has reportedly refused to take the probable asylum-seekers.
That's despite Australia saying they were well within Indonesia's search and rescue zone.
Operation Sovereign Borders Commander Angus Campbell won't provide any details on the supposed stand-off.
"I will not comment further in relation to on-water matters, thank you. // REPORTER: General this is of great public interest. // CAMPBELL: I will not comment further in relation to on-water matters. // REPORTER: Have they since been ... // CAMPBELL: I will not comment further in relation to on-water matters. I think we've dealt with that question."
A spokesman for Indonesia's coordinating minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs says Indonesia won't be accepting the asylum-seekers for the time being.
The spokesman said Indonesia did not want to a "dumping ground for asylum-seekers."
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says it is yet to be determined which country will take the passengers.
Labor's immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, has told the ABC the lack of information from Australian authorities is unacceptable.
"The idea that the Australian media first learns from Indonesian authorities about the participation of an Australian navy vessel and other Australian assets and asylum-seeker rescue is completely inappropriate. I mean this just highlights how preposterous this information management program that's being undertaken by Minister Morrison really is."
Meanwhile the Australian Greens are trying to compel the Australian government to provide more updates on asylum-seeker issues.
Immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says when parliament resumes next week, the party will be moving an "order for the production of documents" on asylum-seeker matters.
"The government will have to lay on the table reports, briefings and information within 24 hours of incidents that occur out on the high seas. This production of documents order is absolutely imperative at a time when we have the Australian government, the Prime Minister himself, believing that he doesn't have to be up-front [open] with the Australian people."
The dispute between Australia and Indonesia comes amid rising tensions between the two nations after allegations Australia's Jakarta embassy was used as a base for political, diplomatic and economic intelligence-gathering.
Earlier this week, Indonesia threatened cooperation on regional problems, like people-smuggling, could be in jeopardy if Australia didn't promise to stop spying on its neighbour.
But Mr Morrison says the diplomatic row has not affected asylum-seeker operations.
"We are proceeding on the normal operational basis we have been under Operation Sovereign Borders and there's been no departure from that, both on the Indonesian side or from the Australian side. This matter is being dealt with operationally, operationally. And that's quite separate from any other matters that others may be speculating upon or commenting on."
And Prime Minister Tony Abbott says relations between the two countries are good and improving.
Meanwhile the ship assisting in the operation is reported to be the HMAS Ballarat - the vessel involved in the Navy's latest scandal.
It's alleged crew on board were anally penetrated with objects including pens and water bottles as part of an initiation ritual.
Defence has confirmed the Ballarat is the focus of an investigation, but says officials from the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service will not be able to get to the ship for several days.
Prime Minsiter Tony Abbott says the allegations are disturbing and are being addressed.
"My understanding is that they are being investigated by the military chiefs. The military chiefs certainly take this issue very very seriously indeed and while I would be the last person to say there is never any problem in this area, I do think that our defence forces are determined to stamp out inappropriate behaviour."
