Howard’s Tampa II

John Ward

The next life at sea crisis involved the controversial boat where the Government claimed the passengers had tried to throw their children overboard. In that case, the navy commander, Norman Banks, was instructed to hold the passengers on their broken-down boat until it was sinking and all persons, including children, were in the water…The asylum seekers said some of the sailors were so distressed at having to carry out their orders that they wept. This is the same John Howard who feigns distress over aboriginal children who are suffering neglect and abuse.

JOHN Howard’s record on compassion and empathy is poor indeed. He says he ‘understands’ the issues but his actions are usually inadequate or lacking the human touch. Let me take you back to the Tampa election…

By September 14, 2001, Navy Commodore Gately wrote to Reith, and the first clash between the Government and the navy over its (the navy’s) safety of life at sea obligations occurred.

One of the navy commanders, Richard Menhinick of HMAS Warramunga, had to ask permission to remove from the refugee boat, a pregnant woman who was going into labour. The situation report on the incident reads: “Pregnant woman on SIEV 03 presents with imminent delivery — being reviewed by MO (Medical Officer) guidance is required on acceptable transfer locations given unsuitability of SIEV for delivery. Consequences of delivery complications could give rise to potential adverse public image issues.”

The commander was allowed to transfer the woman to a navy vessel but not provide medical assistance or bring her to Australia.

The next life at sea crisis involved the controversial boat where the Government claimed the passengers had tried to throw their children overboard. In that case, the navy commander, Norman Banks, was instructed to hold the passengers on their broken-down boat until it was sinking and all persons, including children, were in the water …The asylum seekers said some of the sailors were so distressed at having to carry out their orders that they wept.

The log books from HMAS Adelaide show that Commander Banks was given directions that were directly from the Prime Minister’s office. Both Howard and Reith maintained tight control over the military conduct of Operation Relex until the end of the election campaign, issuing directions through a taskforce made up of public servants. At times, the records show, Reith and Howard, directly or through their offices, tracked particular confrontations with boats and boarding operations.

This is the same John Howard who feigns distress over aboriginal children who are suffering neglect and abuse.

I challenge you, Prime Minister, to examine the white community before you portray the black community as separate from the rest of us. You will find that more than half the women and young boys across all the generations and from all walks of life who have suffered mental, physical, incest and sexual abuse, were not at the hands of strangers but from their fathers, brothers and people in positions of trust. This in a culture that has been developed over the last 200 years in this country. Surely Galaxy can do that poll for you?

Wake-up Australia and take a bloody good look at yourself.