The vessel tried to flee to Australian waters following its detection by fisheries officers, sparking a two-week pursuit over more than 6,000 kilometres in the southern Indian Ocean. The Government is seeking a court order to confiscate the catch and the vessel. The head of the mission, Lieutenant Commander Peter Gibson, says the conditions onboard the vessel were some of the worst he has seen. The Federal Fisheries Minister, Wilson Tuckey, says the detection and apprehension of an international fishing vessel in Australian waters sends a clear message that illegal fishing will not be tolerated. Mr Tuckey says the Government will consider stepping up its surveillance of the area to deter others from illegally fishing in Australian waters.
Asthma medications face tests.
The election campaign is coming as Australian retailers brace themselves for massive impacts from last month's terror attack in New York. The Anglican Church in Melbourne has attacked Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, with some members of the clergy calling for a royal commission.