Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641484576.pdf (Australia)
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES 2 MARCH 2020 Home Affairs Portfolio Operation Sovereign Borders AE20-203 - Update Previous Data and Tables Provided to Committees Senator Nick McKim asked: "Previously provided tables setting out the number of boat arrivals, turn backs, take backs and assisted returns since September 2013, and including: i. ii.

iii.

iv.

v. vi.
the total number of people on board each venture, with breakdowns by passengers and crew; the number of children on each venture; the outcome of the venture (arrival, turn back, take back or assisted return); in the case of arrivals, where those people are now; in the case of non-arrivals, the country to which people were returned and the method of return (by plane via an Australian airfield, turned back on own vessel, provided with alternate vessel, handed over to authorities of another State either at sea or in that State’s territory, etc.
); and the number of people on board each venture who: • indicated that they wished to seek asylum in Australia (whether formally or informally, in exact terms or by implication); • underwent screening (including where that screening took place, and whether there was access to interpreters and legal representatives); or • were determined to engage or possibly engage Australia’s protection obligations.

vii.

whether that venture was reflected in the Operation Sovereign Borders monthly update for that month.
a.

If not, why not?"

Answer: Question i See Table 1 for turn backs, take backs and assisted returns.

See Table 2 for persons unable to be safely returned.

Question ii See Table 1 for turn backs, take backs and assisted returns.

See Table 2 for persons unable to be safely returned.

Question iii See Table 1 for turn backs, take backs and assisted returns.

See Table 2 for persons unable to be safely returned.These individuals were taken to a Regional Processing Country.
Question iv: As at 1 March 2020, the individuals unable to be safely returned were located as follows: • 569 are temporarily in Australia for medical treatment or engaged in litigation to prevent their removal • 364 have returned to their country of origin • 253 have resettled in a third country • 116 are in Nauru • 0 are in Papua New Guinea Question v: See Table 1 for take backs, turn backs and assisted returns.

These individuals were returned to either Indonesia, Sri Lanka or Vietnam.
Question vi: The public’s right to know about the details of on-water operations under OSB is balanced against operational security requirements and the safety of all persons involved in operations, including those on board the venture.

Information about operational activities that can be safely released is provided on a regular basis either through the monthly OSB updates, or via other forums such as Senate Estimates at a later stage when the information is no longer deemed to be operationally sensitive.
Information provided by individuals intercepted at sea under OSB is appropriately considered, consistent with Australia’s domestic and international obligations.

Returns are conducted only when safe to do so and when Australia is able to meet its domestic and international obligations.

If individuals are unable to be safely returned to their country of origin or departure, they are transferred to a regional processing country in order for their claims for protection to be assessed by that country.
A table providing an overview of ventures that were unable to be safely returned since the commencement of OSB is included below.

Question vii: For operational reasons, current sensitive operational activity has occasionally not been released in the relevant OSB monthly updates.

However, information on all ventures is captured in OSB’s public statistics when it is no longer operationally sensitive to do so.

Further details will not be provided in order to preserve operational security.
Table 1 – Overview of Returned People Smuggling Ventures The total number includes all persons on board the returned venture.

Where applicable, The number of crew and children included within the total number is shown in brackets.
Number Date Total Number of People on Board Summary Financial Year 2013 – 2014 December 2013 49 (2 crew, 17 children) December 2013 50 (1 crew, 8 children) December 2013 40 (2 crew, 4 children) Turnback Turnback Turnback January 2014 47 (2 crew, 13 children) Assisted Return January 2014 27 (2 crew, 4 children) January 2014 58 (2, crew, 2 children) February 2014 38 (2 crew, 3 children) February 2014 28 (2 crew, 2 children) May 2014 May 2014 May 2014 20 (2 crew) 3 (1 crew) 3 (2 crew) Financial Year 2014 - 2015 Turnback Turnback Turnback Turnback Turnback Turnback Turnback July 2014 41 (1 crew, 9 children) Takeback September 2014 10 (3 crew) Assisted Return November 2014 37 (6 children) Takeback January 2015 February 2015 3 (2 crew) Assisted Return 4 Takeback March 2015 17 (2 crew, 3 children) 46 (2 crew, 22 children) Turnback Takeback 71 (6 crew) Assisted Return Financial Year 2015 - 2016 46 (18 children) 27 (2 crew) 3 (2 crew) 17 (1 crew) 5 Takeback Turnback Assisted Return Turnback Takeback 8 (2 crew) Assisted Return 12 (2 children) Takeback 3 (2 crew) Assisted Return 21 (4 children) Takeback April 2015 May 2015 July 2015 August 2015 November 2015 November 2015 February 2016 March 2016 May 2016 May 2016 June 2016 August 2016 March 2017 June 2017 Financial Year 2016 - 2017 6 25 6 Financial Year 2017 - 2018 December 2017 29 (2 children) June 2018 10 (3 crew) Financial Year 2018 - 2019 September 2018 17 (2 children) May 2019 20 (5 crew, 3 children) Financial Year 2019 - 2020 July 2019 August 2019 January 2020 5 13 8 (2 crew) Takeback Takeback Takeback Takeback Turnback Takeback Takeback Takeback Takeback Turnback Table 2 – Overview of Maritime People Smuggling Ventures Unable to be Safely Returned The total number includes all persons on board the venture.
Where applicable, the number of crew and children included within the total number is shown in brackets.
Venture Number Date Total Number of People on Board Financial Year 2013 – 2014 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 September 2013 October 2013 October 2013 October 2013 October 2013 October 2013 November 2013 November 2013 November 2013 November 2013 November 2013 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 December 2013 33 (2 crew, 9 children) 21 (2 crew, 1 child) 7 (1 child) 72 (2 crew, 8 children) 82 (3 crew, 11 children) 79 (25 children) 55 (2 crew, 14 children) 42 (2 crew, 7 children) 42 (1 crew, 3 children) 128 (2 crew, 25 children) 63 (2 crew, 11 children) 68 (2 crew, 13 children) 40 (4 crew, 8 children) 39 (4 crew, 7 children) 11 (2 crew, 2 children) 31 (2 crew, 3 children) 27 (2 crew, 2 children) 72 (2 crew, 13 children) 63 (2 crew, 14 children) 5 (2 crew) 71 (2 crew, 13 children) 100 (2 crew, 25 children) Financial Year 2014 – 2015 23 July 2014 157 (50 children) Financial Years 2015 - 2016 to 2018 - 2019 – no ventures unable to be returned Financial Year 2019 - 2020 – no ventures unable to be returned as at 1 March 2020