Move over three star general, Air Marshal Binskin is in charge

Speaking alongside Mr Morrison during the second of what are slated to be weekly briefings on asylum seeker matters today, Operation Sovereign Borders Acting Commander Air Marshal Mark Binskin gave a blow-by-blow account of how Australian authorities handled the operation. ABC

Tony Abbott has a very frank discussion about sovereignty

I wonder if he can pronounce Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's name?

At a joint press conference after the leaders' meeting, Mr Abbott described the talks as "very warm and constructive".
"We had a very frank discussion about issues of sovereignty ... and about issues of people smugglers," he said.
"We are determined to end this scourge which is not just an affront to our two countries but which has so often become a humanitarian disaster in the seas between our two countries.
"We are resolved, together united, to tackle this problem and to beat it." ABC

Abbott diplomacy makes world headlines

Everyone loves a good dustup.

BBC
CNN
Times of India
Jakarta Post

Scott Morrison absolutely and totally wrong

No he wasn't talking about himself or his boss.

A spokesman for Mr Morrison said suggestions Australian authorities were slow to act were "absolutely and totally wrong".
"The government completely rejects allegations of a 26-hour delay in response to this tragic incident by Australian agencies," Mr Morrison's office said in a statement issued on Sunday.
"Australian agencies acted on the information provided on this tragic incident."
Mr Morrison said initial searches failed to find the boat, which was reported to be about 25 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast. SBS

Abbott diplomacy: Bring fat cats

Its becoming clear Tony prefers the company of rich white people, when he goes cycling, when he goes overseas, in cabinet, and so on.

TONY Abbott has recruited 20 of the biggest names in business including Visy chief Anthony Pratt and Telstra chair Catherine Livingstone to travel with him on hi high-stakes visit to Jakarta starting today.
Three bank bosses including ANZ’s Mike Smith, the Commonwealth’s Ian Narev and Nicholas Moore from Macquarie and top mining, construction, agriculture and health care company leaders will also be on the trip. News

Abbott Government: Week 2 in review

Building on achievements of Week 1 and since the midweek review

• The Nats struggle for relevance, break ranks over uni services fees
• Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane wants Barry O'Farrell's gas
• Abbott promises not to violate Indonesia
• Australia declared open for business...
• ..but Ministers' doors remain closed to journalists, unless they have Tony's blessing.
• The Indonesian Navy disagrees with Tony.
• The Indonesian Foreign Minister accidentally on purpose leaks what he thinks of Julie Bishop.
• Are you a business person? The Indigenous Council wants you!
• Diplomatic dream team faces dilemma over West Papuan arrivals
• All this hubbub is just a 'passing irritant' though.
• The Navy sends asylum seekers back to Indonesia.
• An asylum boat sinks, after radioing Australia for help. People drown. 
• Joe Hockey talks down the Budget, which is in better shape than expected.
• Asylum Boat 2: Returned to Indonesia Boogaloo.
• The three star general in charge of stopping boats chooses a great time to go on holidays.
• Tony Abbott turns his back and walks away from questions about boats.
• Brandis and Barnaby practice austerity, Coalition style. Thanks for the perks, suckers.

until next time!

More austerity from Brandis and Barnaby

Two of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's most high-profile ministers claimed thousands of dollars in taxpayer entitlements for attending the wedding of close friend and Sydney shock jock Michael Smith. Fairfax

Tony Abbott ignores questions about drowning deaths

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has ignored reporters seeking information on up to 90 deaths after an asylum boat sank off the coast of Indonesia last night.

News

The boat stopping general is on holidays

He can't stop the boats because he's gone on leave.

News ltd

Second boatload to be returned

shit keeps happening

The Australian Customs ship, ACV Triton, is attempting to get permission to enter Indonesian waters to offload 31 asylum seekers rescued overnight.
If permission is granted it will be the second time since yesterday that Australian rescue authorities have returned asylum seekers to Indonesia. ABC

Joe talks down the budget

The budget is in better shape than projected, but Joe Hockey is all gloomy gus

The 2012-13 budget deficit has ended up slightly smaller than Labor forecast in the May budget – but Treasurer Joe Hockey says prospects for 2013-14 are looking even worse now than when the election was called. Mr Hockey said confidence is returning to the economy, but the government will face a challenge to sustain growth as the mining investment boom deflates – and hinted that it is looking at ways to stimulate infrastructure spending. Fairfax

Asylum boat sinks, Morrison keeps mum

Due to the cone of silence around boats, the only way we know about this is from the Indonesians.

About 20 people, mostly children under 15 years old, died when an asylum seeker vessel sank off the southern coast of Java on its way to Australia.
Adjunct Commissioner Warsono from the Agrabinta Police has confirmed that 25 people were rescued before the search was called off at nightfall.
He could not say how many more may still be missing, but some reports suggest it might be up to 80 people. Fairfax

Navy sends asylum seekers back to Indonesia

The Australian Navy intercepted the vessel and then advised Basarnas that it would drop the asylum seekers off.
In the early hours of this morning an Indonesian rescue crew met a Navy ship off the coast of Java and the asylum seekers were handed over.
It is understood the handover took place just outside the 12 nautical mile limit of Indonesian territorial waters. ABC

Merely a passing irritant

Mr Abbott says Australia's relationship with Indonesia is strong and close and he wants it to be more so in the months ahead."The last thing that anyone should want is to have Australia's relationship with Indonesia defined by this boats issue which I am sure will be but a passing irritant," he told Fairfax Radio in Melbourne on Friday. News

West Papua dilemma for diplomatic dream team

THE Abbott Government is facing a diplomatic dilemma after it emerged on Thursday the six West Papuans who cruised across the Torres Strait to Australia are believed to be activists. news ltd

Business people wanted for Indigenous Council

The Federal Government is calling for expressions of interest from people wanting to be on the council.
Mr Mundine says he is keen to get people with business experience on board, and wants the council to consult widely.

Prior to the federal election, the Coalition announced it would slash $42 million from Indigenous legal support. 

ABC

Indonesian foreign minister talks about Julie Bishop

Indonesia's foreign minister has divulged the contents of his private discussions with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop, warning the Government's asylum seeker policies could damage relations.
Marty Natalegawa met the new Foreign Affairs Minister in New York this week and the two spoke at length about a range of issues.
In an unusual step, Dr Natalegawa's department has issued a press release revealing details of the discussion, which included Australia's plan to turn boats back to Indonesia. ABC

Indonesian Navy says no to boats plan

In the latest of a string of objections coming out of Jakarta, a senior navy official says Prime Minister Tony Abbott's plan to force boats back would also unfairly shift the burden of dealing with the asylum seeker problem back on Indonesia.Major Andy Apriyanto, the head of policy for the Indonesian Maritime Security Coordinating Board, said Mr Abbott needed to drop the plan or he would be responsible for risking lives.
News ltd

Abbot's Australia "open for business", Ministers doors closed

Mr Abbott told reporters Australia was "open for business" and confidence was returning to the economy.

"We are not rushing things, but we are getting things done."

Mr Abbott confirmed reports he had asked ministers to clear all their media appearances with his office - an arrangement which he said worked well in opposition. Fairfax

Abbott won't violate Indonesia

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his government's policy to turn back asylum seeker boats to Indonesia will respect the country's sovereignty.

Indonesian foreign minister Dr Marty Natalegawa has warned Australia his country won't accept violations of its borders in relation to the boat turnback plan. Fairfax