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.

Just on a second issue before your questions, the Government is seeking to confirm reports that the Indonesian Court of Appeal has indicated that a death sentence would not be appropriate in the case of three of the Bali Nine. We are waiting to confirm that, and until we confirm that, all I'll say is that, if it is the case, then obviously we welcome it. But we have made clear publicly and also to the Indonesian government since coming to office that, if at the exhaustion of all the Indonesian legal procedures, any of the Bali Nine are still facing a death sentence, then the Australian Government on their behalf would pursue a plea of clemency. So, we will proceed and await confirmation from Australian officials in Bali and Jakarta as to the precise nature of the decision by the Indonesian Court of Appeal.

I'm happy to take your questions.

QUESTION: Are you aware if any of the prisoners, who have alleged to have their sentences commuted, have been told anything to that effect?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, I understand from media reports that one of the Indonesian based lawyers may well have been in contact with the three concerned. But so far as the Australian Government is concerned, we will await confirmation from officials as to the precise detail of the decision of the Indonesian Court.

QUESTION: Given that there are still three Australians, if - even if this report is correct - who are on death row, is there any sentiment to ramping up Australian diplomatic efforts to plead for clemency, or is too early for that?

STEPHEN SMITH: It's too early because it's appropriate in all of these cases to await the complete exhaustion of Indonesian legal procedures and processes. And, when the Prime Minister met with the President of Indonesia at the time of the Bali Climate Change Conference, he made the point, which I subsequently made to the Indonesian Foreign Minister, that if, upon the exhaustion of all legal procedures through the Indonesian courts, any of the nine were subject to a death penalty, then the Australian Government would pursue with the Indonesian Government a plea of clemency on their behalf.

But, we'll simply wait until all those processes have exhausted themselves. If the reports are true, then obviously it's very welcome, but we will treat each of these individually and make our representations if they're required, once all the legal processes have exhausted themselves.

QUESTION: If the reports are true, should the other members be heartened by this decision?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, I think it's important in these cases for each case to be treated individually and that's the basis upon which the Australian Government proceeds. Obviously, so far as the three who are the subject, potentially, of this decision, it's very welcome news and we would welcome it, but we'll just await confirmation from our officials in Bali and Jakarta.

QUESTION: Minister, last year, Robert McClelland promised if the Labor Party came to government that Australia would share its bird flu vaccine with South East Asian countries; do you intend following through with that?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, it's not something that I have put my mind to in any great detail, so I wouldn't be proposing to be drawn on that subject matter today. It's something that we'll look at in due course.

QUESTION: So, you will consider it?

STEPHEN SMITH: You've reminded me of Robert's statement in the previous parliament, it's not something that I've given any great attention to in my time as Minister for Foreign Affairs; I'm happy to do that, but I'll do that deliberatively and at leisure. It's not something that I'll be drawn on in detail today.

QUESTION: Do you think that South East Asian countries might be disappointed if you change your mind?

STEPHEN SMITH: Well, it's not a matter of changing my mind, it's not something that I've put my mind to as minister - I'm happy to do that, but I'll do that in a sober and considered way.

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

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