PM’s video message to people smugglers: ‘You will not succeed’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a stern warning for people smugglers and those attempting to come here illegally: “You will not succeed.” Mr Morrison issues the warning in a video to be translated into 15 languages and aired in 10 countries. WATCH THE VIDEO
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recorded a secret video to deter people smugglers from coming to Australia, warning those willing to make the dangerous journey: “you will not succeed”.
The two minute video, recorded in Canberra late on Friday night, will be translated into 15 languages and aired in 10 countries including asylum-seeker hot spots such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Prime Minister’s full message will hit the internet within the next fortnight and will also be geo targeted to popular transit countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand where people smuggling rings operate.
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Initially the advertisement will be aired at the start of clips on videostreaming site YouTube, with a shorter 15 or 30 second version distributed to other digital channels in the coming months. The Sunday telegraph understands the Government isn’t ruling out broadcasting the video on foreign television channels.
The clip will counter claims the Morrison Government was trying to goad people smugglers after the Prime Minister warned the new medevac laws could restart the people-smuggling trade, even though the laws only apply to the existing cohort of refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.
In the video, Mr Morrison warns asylum seekers Australia has zero tolerance for people smuggling and illegal boats that try to reach Australia.
“No-one who attempts an illegal boat journey to Australia will ever be allowed to settle here,” Mr Morrison warns. “Australian border protection authorities will intercept any people smuggling boat that approaches Australia, and they will return those on board to their country of departure or their home country.”
“Make no mistake; if you attempt to come to Australia illegally by boat, you will not succeed.
So do not waste your money or risk your life, or anyone else’s life, for nothing.”
It is the first time an Australian Prime Minister has used a direct video message to try to deter people smugglers and mirrors a similar message recorded by Mr Morrison in 2014 when he was immigration minister.
The video message comes as intelligence officials raise concerns about the potential security risk posed by some of the asylum seekers who could be eligible for medical transfers.
One senior intelligence source told The Sunday Telegraph an asylum seeker currently living in offshore detention is suspected of engaging in people smuggling, and potentially organised three dangerous voyages to Australia. Despite the suspicions of security officials the Pakistani man had not been convicted of people smuggling so would be eligible for a medical transfer.
Under the new laws, passed in parliament last week, two doctors can recommended a medical evacuation for a sick asylum seeker or refugee which can be overruled by the minister on medical grounds.
Rejected cases will be reviewed by a medical panel, which can recommend a transfer goes ahead. The minister can only reject the case for a second time on national security grounds or if the detainee has a substantial criminal record.
After suffering a historic defeat on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, Mr Morrison announced the Christmas Island detention centre would reopen to process detainees in need of medical attention. Speaking yesterday, Mr Morrison, who will frame his re-election pitch on border security, blamed Labor leader Bill Shorten for the cost of reopening the island’s mothballed detention facility.
“That will cost us in the next couple of years we estimate $500 million and $1.4 billion over the next four years. Now, I can’t describe to you the fury that is within me that I have to now go spend money on opening a centre that I didn’t need to open a week ago when the farmers and communities of north Queensland are crying out for our support.”
Originally published as PM’s video message to people smugglers: ‘You will not succeed’
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