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⚫ The '''Children Overboard''' affair was an ]n ]. In October 2001, during the lead-up to a federal election, the Australian government repeatedly claimed that ] on a “]” (SIEV), intercepted by ] off ], had thrown a number of children overboard in a presumed ploy to secure rescue and passage onto Australian soil. The vessel, designated SIEV 4, was believed to be operated by ].
{{see also|Australian federal election, 2001}}


⚫ The claim was first made by Immigration Minister ] on 7 October 2001 (the day before writs for the 2001 federal election were issued<ref name=AEC_Writs_2001>, Australian Electoral Commission</ref>). It was later repeated by other ] including Defence Minister ] and ] ].<ref name='Insight20011108'>
The '''Children Overboard''' affair was an ]n ] involving public allegations by ministers of the Australian government, in the lead-up to a federal election, that sea-faring ] had thrown children overboard in a presumed ploy to secure rescue and passage to Australia.
⚫ {{cite web

⚫ The government's handling of this and other events involving ]s worked to its advantage. The ] had led the government to adopt stricter ] measures to prevent ]s from reaching Australia by boat. Polls indicated the measures had public support. The government was able to portray itself as "strong" on border protection measures and opponents as "weak". In November 2001, the Liberal-National coalition was ] with an increased majority.

⚫ It was later found by ] inquiry that the "Children Overboard" claim was untrue and that the government knew this prior to the election. The government attracted criticism that it had misled the public and cynically "exploited voters' fears of a wave of illegal immigrants by demonising asylum-seekers".<ref name='TheAust_MegalFeb2006'/>.

Although unknown whether sabotage caused the eventual sinking of the asylum seeker vessel<ref name='SMH20060228_MarrTruthOverboard'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/truth-overboard--the-story-that-wont-go-away/2006/02/27/1141020023654.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
| title=Truth overboard : the story that won't go away
| work=Sydney Morning Herald
| publisher=Fairfax
| author=David Marr
| date=2006-02-28
}}</ref>, in 2007 Australian Prime Minister John Howard maintained "they irresponsibly sank the damn boat, which put their children in the water" and "they did sink the boat".<ref name='TheAust_MegalFeb2006'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18282114-28097,00.html
| title=They sank the boat, Howard says
| author=George Megalogenis
| work=The Australian
| date=27 February 2006
}}</ref>

==Background==
⚫ In early October 2001, ] on a “]” (SIEV) were intercepted by ] off ]. The vessel, designated SIEV 4, was believed to be operated by ].

⚫ Immigration Minister ] announced on 7 October 2001 (the day before writs for the 2001 federal election were issued<ref name=AEC_Writs_2001>, Australian Electoral Commission</ref>) that passengers of SIEV 4 had thrown children overboard. It was later repeated by other ] including Defence Minister ] and ] ].<ref name='Insight20011108'>
⚫ {{ cite news
| title = John Howard Interview | title = John Howard Interview
| author = Jenny Brockie | first = Jenny
| last = Brockie
| publisher = SBS Insight | publisher = SBS Insight
| date = ] ] | date = ] ]
Line 34: Line 11:
| accessdate = 2007-09-20 }} | accessdate = 2007-09-20 }}
</ref><ref name='Senate_MainReport_ExecSumm'>, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident</ref> </ref><ref name='Senate_MainReport_ExecSumm'>, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident</ref>

⚫ The government's handling of this and other recent events involving ]s worked in its favour. The ] had led the government to adopt stricter ] measures to prevent ]s from reaching Australia by boat. Polls indicated the measures had public support. The government was able to portray itself as "strong" on border protection measures and opponents as "weak". In November 2001, the Liberal-National coalition was ] with an increased majority.

⚫ A ] select committee inquiry later found that the "Children Overboard" claim was untrue and that the government knew this prior to the election. The government attracted criticism that it had misled the public and cynically "exploited voters' fears of a wave of illegal immigrants by demonising asylum-seekers".<ref name='TheAust_MegalFeb2006'/>

While it remains uncertain whether sabotage caused SIEV 4 to sink<ref>, SMH, David Marr, 28 Feb 2006</ref>, in an interview for a book, ''The Howard Factor'', John Howard maintained "they irresponsibly sank the damn boat, which put their children in the water" and "they did sink the boat".<ref name='TheAust_MegalFeb2006'>, George Megalogenis, The Australian, 27 February 2006</ref>


==Senate inquiry findings== ==Senate inquiry findings==


A Senate select committee inquiry, composed mainly of non-government senators, found that no children were thrown overboard from SIEV 4; that the evidence did not support the Children Overboard claim; and that the purported to show children thrown into the sea were taken after SIEV 4 sank.<ref name='Senate_MainReport_ExecSumm'/> In response, Howard said that he acted on the intelligence he was given at the time. The Senate inquiry found that no children were thrown overboard from SIEV 4; that the evidence did not support the Children Overboard claim; and that the purported to show children thrown into the sea were taken after SIEV 4 sank.<ref name='Senate_MainReport_ExecSumm'/> In response, Howard said that he acted on the intelligence he was given at the time.


A minority dissenting report, authored by government senators on the committee, found that passengers aboard other SIEVs had threatened children, sabotaged their own vessels, committed ] and, in the case of ] on ], thrown a child overboard who was rescued by another asylum seeker.<ref name='DissentReport1'>, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident</ref><ref name='SMH20021024_MinoritySenators'>{{ cite news The report also noted that passengers aboard other SIEVs had threatened children, sabotaged their own vessels, committed ] and, in the case of ] on ], thrown a child overboard who was rescued by another asylum seeker.<ref name='AnyPrevious'>, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident</ref>
| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/23/1034561551340.html
| title=Liberal senators slam children overboard inquiry
| work=]
| author=Cynthia Banham
| date=2002-10-24
}}</ref>


==Scrafton revelations== ==Scrafton revelations==


In August 2004, ], a former senior advisor to Peter Reith, revealed that he told John Howard on 7 November 2001 that the Children Overboard claim was untrue.<ref name='ABC20040816_WorldTodayScrafton'>{{ cite news In August 2004, ], a former senior advisor to Peter Reith, revealed that he told John Howard on 7 November 2001 that the Children Overboard claim was untrue.<ref name='Scrafton_Aug2004'>. Transcript from interview by Catherine McGrath, ''The World Today'', ABC Radio (16 August, 2004)</ref> Howard said they only discussed the inconclusive nature of the video footage.<ref>, Greg Jennett, ABC Lateline (16 August 2004)</ref><ref>, ABC News, 16 August 2004</ref>
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1177463.htm
| title=Mike Scrafton speaks live about children overboard affair
| author=Catherine McGrath
| work=The World Today
| publisher=ABC Radio
| date=2004-08-16
}}</ref> Howard said they only discussed the inconclusive nature of the video footage.<ref name='ABC20040816_Lateline'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2004/s1177964.htm
| title=Howard pressured over 'children overboard' knowledge
| author=Greg Jennett
| work=Lateline
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
| date=2004-08-16
}}</ref><ref name='ABC20040816_NewsKidsOverboard'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/08/16/1177170.htm
| title=ALP wants new kids overboard probe
| work=ABC News
| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
| date=2004-08-16
}}</ref>


The Senate inquiry was reopened to hear Scrafton's testimony<ref name='MainReport2'>, 9 December 2004</ref> and subsequently found his claims to be credible.<ref name='ABC20041209_WorldToday'>{{ cite news The Senate inquiry was reopened to hear Scrafton's testimony<ref>, 9 December 2004</ref> and subsequently found his claims to be credible.<ref>, The World Today, ABC Local Radio (9 December 2004)</ref> Government committee members questioned the reliability of Scrafton's testimony, including that he had spoken with Howard three times on the telephone when records showed that they spoke twice, and wrote a minority dissenting report challenging the finding.<ref name='DissentReport2'>, Senate Select Committee on the Scrafton Evidence (9 December 2004)</ref>
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1261514.htm
| title=Senate inquiry finds Scrafton's children overboard evidence credible
| publisher=] Local Radio
| work=The World Today
| author=Alexandra Kirk
| date=2004-12-09
}}</ref> Government committee members questioned the reliability of Scrafton's testimony, including that he had spoken with Howard three times on the telephone when records showed that they spoke twice, and wrote a minority dissenting report challenging the finding.<ref name='DissentReport2'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/Committee/scrafton_ctte/report/d01.htm
| title=Government Senators' Report
| publisher=Senate Select Committee on the Scrafton Evidence
| date=2004-12-09
}}</ref>


Scrafton's revelation and the reopening of the inquiry occurred close to the announcement of the ]. The Children Overboard affair received widespread coverage and discussion within political and media circles and was a central theme of the Australian Labor Party's 2004 election campaign.<ref name='TheAge_1Sept2004'>{{ cite news Scrafton's revelation and the reopening of the inquiry occurred close to the announcement of the ]. The Children Overboard affair received widespread coverage and discussion within political and media circles and was a central theme of the Australian Labor Party's 2004 election campaign.<ref name='TheAge_1Sept2004'>, The Age (1 September 2004)</ref><ref name='TheAge_Hawke2004'>. Kim Arlington, ''The Age'' (24 August 2004).</ref>
| url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/01/1093938945905.html
| title=Children overboard to dominate campaign
| author=AAP
| work=]
| publisher=Fairfax
| date=2004-09-01
}}</ref><ref name='TheAge_Hawke2004'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/24/1093246520431.html?from=storylhs
| title=Children overboard the most despicable of lies: Hawke
| author=Kim Arlington
| work=The Age
| publisher=Fairfax
| date=2004-08-24
}}</ref>


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 02:55, 13 October 2007

The Children Overboard affair was an Australian political controversy. In October 2001, during the lead-up to a federal election, the Australian government repeatedly claimed that asylum seekers on a “Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel” (SIEV), intercepted by HMAS Adelaide off Christmas Island, had thrown a number of children overboard in a presumed ploy to secure rescue and passage onto Australian soil. The vessel, designated SIEV 4, was believed to be operated by people smugglers.

The claim was first made by Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock on 7 October 2001 (the day before writs for the 2001 federal election were issued). It was later repeated by other senior government ministers including Defence Minister Peter Reith and Prime Minister John Howard.

The government's handling of this and other recent events involving unauthorised arrivals worked in its favour. The Tampa incident had led the government to adopt stricter border protection measures to prevent unauthorised arrivals from reaching Australia by boat. Polls indicated the measures had public support. The government was able to portray itself as "strong" on border protection measures and opponents as "weak". In November 2001, the Liberal-National coalition was re-elected with an increased majority.

A Senate select committee inquiry later found that the "Children Overboard" claim was untrue and that the government knew this prior to the election. The government attracted criticism that it had misled the public and cynically "exploited voters' fears of a wave of illegal immigrants by demonising asylum-seekers".

While it remains uncertain whether sabotage caused SIEV 4 to sink, in an interview for a book, The Howard Factor, John Howard maintained "they irresponsibly sank the damn boat, which put their children in the water" and "they did sink the boat".

Senate inquiry findings

The Senate inquiry found that no children were thrown overboard from SIEV 4; that the evidence did not support the Children Overboard claim; and that the photographs purported to show children thrown into the sea were taken after SIEV 4 sank. In response, Howard said that he acted on the intelligence he was given at the time.

The report also noted that passengers aboard other SIEVs had threatened children, sabotaged their own vessels, committed self-harm and, in the case of SIEV-7 on 22 October, thrown a child overboard who was rescued by another asylum seeker.

Scrafton revelations

In August 2004, Michael Scrafton, a former senior advisor to Peter Reith, revealed that he told John Howard on 7 November 2001 that the Children Overboard claim was untrue. Howard said they only discussed the inconclusive nature of the video footage.

The Senate inquiry was reopened to hear Scrafton's testimony and subsequently found his claims to be credible. Government committee members questioned the reliability of Scrafton's testimony, including that he had spoken with Howard three times on the telephone when records showed that they spoke twice, and wrote a minority dissenting report challenging the finding.

Scrafton's revelation and the reopening of the inquiry occurred close to the announcement of the 2004 Federal election. The Children Overboard affair received widespread coverage and discussion within political and media circles and was a central theme of the Australian Labor Party's 2004 election campaign.

References

  1. Election Dates (1901 to Present) - House of Representatives, Australian Electoral Commission
  2. Brockie, Jenny (8 November 2001). "John Howard Interview". SBS Insight. Retrieved 2007-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Main Report - Executive Summary, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident
  4. ^ They sank the boat, Howard says, George Megalogenis, The Australian, 27 February 2006
  5. Truth overboard : the story that won't go away, SMH, David Marr, 28 Feb 2006
  6. Government Members Report - Appendix I - The Pattern of Conduct, Select Committee on a certain maritime incident
  7. Mike Scrafton speaks live about children overboard affair. Transcript from interview by Catherine McGrath, The World Today, ABC Radio (16 August, 2004)
  8. Howard pressured over 'children overboard' knowledge, Greg Jennett, ABC Lateline (16 August 2004)
  9. ALP wants new kids overboard probe, ABC News, 16 August 2004
  10. Senate Select Committee on the Scrafton Evidence, 9 December 2004
  11. Senate inquiry finds Scrafton's children overboard evidence credible, The World Today, ABC Local Radio (9 December 2004)
  12. Government Senators' Report, Senate Select Committee on the Scrafton Evidence (9 December 2004)
  13. Children overboard to dominate campaign, The Age (1 September 2004)
  14. Children overboard the most despicable of lies: Hawke. Kim Arlington, The Age (24 August 2004).

External links

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