"we can't stop the & boats neither can you"

We'll recall that this was essentially the policy of Rudd, Bowen, Gillard and Tony Burke just a few months ago.

The bankrupt policy suggested that if Tony Abbott tried, he risked starting a war with Indonesia.

What a difference 5 weeks makes; what a difference having competent adults in charge makes.


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MORE than 550 would-be asylum-seekers have been stopped from getting on boats in Indonesia since the federal election as a result of cooperation with Jakarta.

Australian Federal Police chief commissioner Tony Negus said three “high-value targets” had been arrested in Indonesia, and a warrant issued for a people-smuggling kingpin.

News of the operations follows Tony Abbott's trip to Jakarta last week, where he toned down his rhetoric on turning back asylum boats and expressed Australia's “total respect” for Indonesia's sovereignty.

Mr Negus, who returned from Jakarta this morning with Operation Sovereign Borders acting commander Air Marshal Mark Binskin, said the AFP was working closely with its Indonesian counterpart to hunt down people-smugglers.

“During the last few weeks, since the 8th of September specifically, there have been 17 disruptions in Indonesia, where over 550 passengers have been stopped getting onto boats. That's a result of the cooperative relationship between the AFP, other agencies here in Australia, and the Indonesian National Police,” he said.

He said Indonesian police had also made eight arrests, including those of five crew members and three “high-value targets”.

“These are people who are facilitators and organisers within Indonesia who put people on those boats to start with,” Mr Negus said.

“These people are yet to go to court but will be charged with multiple ventures and organising multiple ventures to this country.”

He said the arrest warrant had also been issued for a “very significant target” in Indonesia who would be tracked down and would hopefully be brought before court in coming weeks.

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/people-smugglers-targeted-in-joint-crackdown-by-australian-indonesian-authorities/story-fn9hm1gu-1226738304026#sthash.OKkaxnPd.dpuf