Response to 7.

30 from the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection It is the policy and practice of the Government to turn boats back where it is safe to do so, by intercepting and safely removing vessels, and their passengers who are seeking to illegally enter Australia, to outside Australias contiguous zone. It is the policy and practice of the Joint Agency Task Force responsible for implementing Operation Sovereign Borders not to disseminate information relating to on water operations. There are clear rules and guidelines to govern behaviour and use of force in relation to the conduct of operations by Border Protection Command, as part of Operation Sovereign Borders. Central to these guidelines is ensuring that operations are conducted safely for both our own officers and persons who are the subject of these operations. Our Navy and Customs and Border Protection officers working under Border Protection Command are well trained and act in accordance with that training and the guidelines and protocols established for these operations. The Government rejects unsubstantiated allegations of inappropriate conduct made against our Navy and Customs and Border Protection personnel. They do an important job, in difficult circumstances, which for the first time in almost six years is stopping the boats. For the past 90 days there has not been a single successful maritime people smuggling venture to Australia. I have repeatedly responded to questions from ABC journalists regarding outrageous claims of torture and mistreatment from those seeking to enter Australia illegally by boat in addition to claims that four people were missing at sea. Such responses were provided on: 8 January, 9 January, 21 January and 22 January. I stand by these responses.