Could people acting out of humanitarian motives be caught up with the proposed anti-people smuggling laws?
BRENDAN O’CONNOR: The Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures bill is an important bill. It is intended to deter people from providing material support to people smuggling activities. Let’s remember that organised syndicates are involved in exploiting people who are in some cases desperate. They are looking to rob them of their life savings, place them on dangerous boats – many – some of which sink. We need to make sure we do everything we can to dismantle organised syndicates in transit countries, and we’re doing that in the case of Indonesia with the help of the Indonesian National Police. We have to ensure we deter people from providing material support. That’s the intent of the legislation. We know money is the lifeblood of organised crime – whether it be people smuggling or other forms of organised crime. And if we can cut the flow of money we can certainly cripple the criminal syndicates that are involved in what is a pernicious activity. QUESTION: Minister, is it [indistinct] s
