http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sarHnaSp0

Looks like the Gillard good ship lollypop Australia failed this time.

Asylum seeker boat adrift in Indonesian waters

TONY EASTLEY: A small boat carrying around 70 asylum seekers in Indonesian waters has sent out a distress call begging for help.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed it received a call from somebody on the vessel late yesterday morning. But the boat, north-west of Bali, couldn't be located by Indonesian search and rescue.

Indonesian authorities suspended their search last night saying they didn't have the equipment to work after dark. Those on board the stricken boat say its engine has failed and it's taking water.

Indonesia correspondent George Roberts managed to speak to some of the people on the boat.

AHMED: Hello.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Hello, can you hear me? What's wrong and where are you?

AHMED: Can you speak English?

GEORGE ROBERTS: Yes, I speak English. Where are you?

FEMALE: Hello, Bali.

GEORGE ROBERTS: (Speaking in Bahasa Indonesia).

FEMALE: Yes, yes.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Whereabouts are you?

AHMED: We are exactly next to the Madura Island.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Next to Madura Island?

AHMED: Madura, Madura.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Madura. What is wrong with the boat? Are you safe?

AHMED: Yeah, we are safe, we are safe.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Is there water coming on board or is the engine just broken down?

AHMED: (Inaudible)

GEORGE ROBERTS: That's the kind of confusion Australian authorities have been dealing with since yesterday morning when they first got a distress call from the same boat. But after looking for half a day and no luck Indonesian search and rescue gave up looking for the night and things got worse.

Ahmed told us the boat was taking on water and it mightn't last long.

AHMED: Help me please fast because this ship is not going to be at all safe more than one hour.

GEORGE ROBERTS: It's not going to last more than one hour?

AHMED: Yeah, yeah, because the pump doesn't work.

GEORGE ROBERTS: The pump doesn't work. Is there water on board the boat?

AHMED: Yeah, the water is coming to the boat and so dangerous for people.

GEORGE ROBERTS: A series of frantic phone calls later and he managed to provide basic GPS coordinates.

AHMED: So you can help us?

GEORGE ROBERTS: I will pass it on to rescue authorities.

AHMED: Okay, okay.

GEORGE ROBERTS: The asylum seekers weren't interested in being rescued by the country they are trying to leave.

FEMALE: You have told Indonesia?

GEORGE ROBERTS: Yes, I told Indonesian search and rescue.

FEMALE: Why? I come to Australia.

GEORGE ROBERTS: Australia is not coordinating the rescue so…

FEMALE: No, no, no, no.
GEORGE ROBERTS: The Australian Maritime Safety Authority also had the boats rough position but it's deep inside Indonesian waters so they couldn't help.

As the night wore on, the pleading got stronger as did the danger.

AHMED: Why you can't come now? It's so dangerous!

GEORGE ROBERTS: Ahmed says there are 70 people on board and only about 15 lifejackets.

But after a long night of battling the seas, there is some good news for the asylum seekers. The Indonesian rescue authority says it's resumed the search with spotlights and navy support.

This is George Roberts in Jakarta for AM.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3553758.htm

Shane B wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 1:17pm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sarHnaSp0

This must be the most honest/well informed/insightful post the sock known as Shane/matty/mellie has ever written, well done Mel.

Did you mean this one -
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/RMS_Titanic_3.jpg/300px-RMS_Titanic_3.jpg

This one -
http://www.printwand.com/blog/media/2012/01/titanic-sinking.jpg

Or, this one -
http://images.wikia.com/wikiality/images/9/9c/Romain_jerome_titanic_watch.jpg

Or, is it just a matter of timing?
Sorry, couldn't help myself?

Matty's return will be thunderous.

The age of entitlement for free trans border migration is over...

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 3:47pm:

The age of entitlement for free trans border migration is over...

For the poor, you mean. Get out of my country  8-) 8-) 8-).

" Where the Bloody Hell are YOU??"

Fly them in like Clive wants to do..a smart man that Clive Palmer

Karnal wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 4:18pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 3:47pm: The age of entitlement for free trans border migration is over... For the poor, you mean. Get out of my country  8-) 8-) 8-).

Lol...I am a citizen, cross me and I will use my statutory power to defend myself or place you under arrest.  The age of entitlement for lawlessness and cross border offenders is over... ;D ;D ;D

The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-)

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 5:58pm:

The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-)

NO IT CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get off the dole, join the Reserves and contribute back to society

Prevailing is quoting from the NRA constitution  :D

lisa.greek wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 5:59pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:58pm: The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-) NO IT CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get off the dole, join the Reserves and contribute back to society

Yes it can...live with it...it can blow them out of the water.... ;D ;D

Predator drones are the future of border security for Australia.... 8-) 8-)

Those damned Arabstani terrorists

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 6:15pm:

lisa.greek wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:59pm: Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:58pm: The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-) NO IT CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get off the dole, join the Reserves and contribute back to society Yes it can...live with it...it can blow them out of the water.... ;D ;D

Groan - no it can't.  But keep wearing the Alfoil Hat - it keeps our workers in jobs

You cant kill me - I will not die.... 8-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VCHj2OSdw :D :D

lisa.greek wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 6:24pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 6:15pm: lisa.greek wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:59pm: Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:58pm: The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-) NO IT CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get off the dole, join the Reserves and contribute back to society Yes it can...live with it...it can blow them out of the water.... ;D ;D Groan - no it can't.  But keep wearing the Alfoil Hat - it keeps our workers in jobs

Hey Adolf - self defense from external pressures is our legal right - get over it... 8-)

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 6:19pm:

Predator drones are the future of border security for Australia.... 8-) 8-)

Does your Mum or Gran Mum live in Canberra?  Just asking - it looks like all the commonsense people live there.  Congrats -Nana would be proud!!!!

lisa.greek wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 6:26pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 6:19pm: Predator drones are the future of border security for Australia.... 8-) 8-) Does your Mum or Gran Mum live in Canberra?  Just asking - it looks like all the commonsense people live there.  Congrats -Nana would be proud!!!!

My nanna would have flown those predator drones... :o ::)

My nanna grew up in a proud working class inner suburb and she hated the lying scum on the other side of the tracks.  ;D ;D

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 5:58pm:

The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-)

No, it can't. Such action can only be taken under orders from the PM. The rules of engagement do not allow for such action to be taken unilaterally by the Captain. The only time they may take action is if the Captain feels the safety of his ship and crew is under threat, such as if the ship was being fired on by the people in the boat. As these people want to come TO Australia rather than fleeing FROM Australia, I think we can safely say this will never occur. So there is no chance of our Navy firing on any people smuggling vessels. Actually, I think there have been only a handful of incidents involving our Navy firing on people smuggling ships and that was solely when the boat was deemed unseaworthy to be towed and once its occupants were transferred to a Navy ship, the boat was fired upon to create holes in the hull so that it would sink so that it did not present a hazard to other shipping.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 7:25pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:58pm: The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-) No, it can't. Such action can only be taken under orders from the PM. The rules of engagement do not allow for such action to be taken unilaterally by the Captain. The only time they may take action is if the Captain feels the safety of his ship and crew is under threat, such as if the ship was being fired on by the people in the boat. As these people want to come TO Australia rather than fleeing FROM Australia, I think we can safely say this will never occur. So there is no chance of our Navy firing on any people smuggling vessels. Actually, I think there have been only a handful of incidents involving our Navy firing on people smuggling ships and that was solely when the boat was deemed unseaworthy to be towed and once its occupants were transferred to a Navy ship, the boat was fired upon to create holes in the hull so that it would sink so that it did not present a hazard to other shipping.

Australia can legally use our navy in any way it sees fit to defend our shores from illegal foreign incursion that ignores express orders to turn away...**Boom**.... :D :D

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 7:25pm:

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26th, 2012 at 5:58pm: The Navy can fire on any boat illegally entering our waters that refuses a direct order to turn around and respect our territorial rights... 8-) 8-) No, it can't. Such action can only be taken under orders from the PM. The rules of engagement do not allow for such action to be taken unilaterally by the Captain. The only time they may take action is if the Captain feels the safety of his ship and crew is under threat, such as if the ship was being fired on by the people in the boat. As these people want to come TO Australia rather than fleeing FROM Australia, I think we can safely say this will never occur. So there is no chance of our Navy firing on any people smuggling vessels. Actually, I think there have been only a handful of incidents involving our Navy firing on people smuggling ships and that was solely when the boat was deemed unseaworthy to be towed and once its occupants were transferred to a Navy ship, the boat was fired upon to create holes in the hull so that it would sink so that it did not present a hazard to other shipping.

well said and 100% correct

Australia has a right to defend its borders and its citizens period...***B00M***...  :D :D

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 7:52pm:

Australia has a right to defend its borders and its citizens period...***B00M***...  :D :D

Period, eh? Is it that time of the month for you? Getting a bit hormonal, are ya?

Our defense forces can liquidate any vessel illegally in our waters that refuses an order to leave or defies a warning shot... :) :)

Prevailing wrote on Jul 26^th, 2012 at 8:22pm:

Our defense forces can liquidate any vessel illegally in our waters that refuses an order to leave or defies a warning shot... :) :)

Prevailing... is your real name "Deathridesadonkey" by any chance?