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The Hon Stephen Smith MP
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
6 March 2008
Press Conference, Melbourne
Subjects: Australians taken hostage in China, Bali Nine
STEPHEN SMITH: I'm very pleased to confirm that the ten Australians involved in the hostage incident in China are all safe and well. My understanding is that they'll be sticking to their prearranged schedule and returning to Australia some time today. So, we're obviously very pleased that their wellbeing has been protected.
The woman from New South Wales who was left alone with the hostage taker was obviously very distressed. She received attention at one of the hospitals but after a brief stay at the hospital, left the hospital, rejoined the others and despite being shaken and distressed, she is now - as the others are - well and intending to return home.
We are in liaison with the Chinese authorities, seeking a full briefing about the incident to see if we can understand the motivation. There's nothing at this stage which would suggest that the group were targeted because they were Australians, or Australia itself was being targeted. The group of 10 were a group of Australian travel agents who were in China on a travel familiarisation tour, effectively hosted by the China travel agency. So, as I say, I am very pleased that they are well..
I'm happy to take your questions.
QUESTION: Does the incident in China make you concerned about security during the Olympic Games?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, people should follow the Australian Government's travel advice, which is on the website. So far as China itself is concerned, China has one of the lowest ratings, where people are encouraged to exercise common sense and take care of their own arrangements. So, China is at the lower end of the scale when it comes to travel advisories. This incident is regarded as unusual in China, which is why we've asked for a full and complete briefing from the Chinese authorities and the Chinese police, to see what, if any, motivation was behind it. But as I say, in general terms, China is at the lower end of the scale when it comes to our travel advisories and our travel warnings.
QUESTION: Will DFAT's travel advisory change on the back of this?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, our travel advisories for all countries are constantly monitored and constantly reviewed, and they're updated on a regularly basis.
QUESTION: Do you think it's an embarrassment for China this has happened so close to the Olympics?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well as I say, this is an unusual event for China, and the Chinese authorities are no doubt putting their minds to the motivation behind it. I think the important point is, two things from the Australian perspective: one, that we are in liaison with the Chinese authorities in seeking a full briefing to ascertain the motivation, if any, behind the hostage taking; and secondly, there's nothing at this stage which would cause us to think that this was in any way aimed at the Australians concerned, at Australia or Australians generally.
QUESTION: Are you able to elaborate on the injuries to the New South Wales woman at all?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, she was taken to hospital. As you'd expect, she was left effectively by herself, separated from the other nine, she was taken - and after the event, she was taken to hospital. Obviously, she was in a state of distress. I'm not aware of any physical injuries, nor am I aware of any great physical injuries to the other nine, but she was taken to hospital, she was looked at in hospital, and then reunited with the other nine. Our consular officials in Beijing and Shanghai have ensured that on their arrival in Shanghai, counselling was made available to them. I'm told that, in the case of the New South Wales woman who was left alone with the hostage taker, she was obviously very distressed in the first instance, but has rebounded very quickly. But we will continue to make those counselling services available to any of the 10.
Obviously this was a terrible experience for all of them, in particular the New South Wales woman who was left alone; we're just very grateful to have confirmation late last night, confirmed again today, that they were all safe and well. But in this sort of incident, obviously, their ongoing welfare is something that we need to continue to look at, which is why the counselling services will be made available to them while they remain in China, and obviously, whatever services we can provide on their return to Australia, we'll obviously provide whatever appropriate services are required, should they desire them.
QUESTION: How far off is their return to Australia?
STEPHEN SMITH: My understanding is they're effectively sticking to their schedule and deciding to return home effectively as they had previously planned. My understanding is some time today they will return or commence the journey of returning to Australia. The other point I would make is, it'll be a matter for them as to whether they want any of these details to be made public. That'll be a matter for them. But my understanding is that all of their families have been advised by the 10 concerned, so the families in Australia have already been advised that they're all safe and well. But what further information the 10 want to provide will be entirely a matter for them.
QUESTION: Do you know if they're all from New South Wales or from the various parts of Australia?
STEPHEN SMITH: I don't. My suspicion is that they are from various parts of Australia. It was a group of 10, all travel agents, on a familiarisation tour, sponsored by China travel agencies, or China travel board, and as a consequence I suspect they come from around the country.
QUESTION: Why are you sure that the man didn't target this group because they're Australians?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well, I'm not saying we're sure - we've asked for a full briefing to find out the motivation, if any. But I have made the point, which I do again, that there is no information or evidence or advice that we have at this stage, which would indicate that this was an attack aimed at Australia or Australians.
But one of the reasons, obviously, we are in conversation with the Chinese authorities and the Chinese police is to seek to ascertain or understand the motivation. But there is nothing that we have at this stage which would cause us to believe that this was aimed at Australia or Australians.
Okay, cheers, thanks.
Ends
Media Inquiries: Foreign Minister's office (02) 6277 7500