“We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.”

A Norwegian ship rescued 433 refugees fleeing repressive regimes in Afghanistan and the Middle East from their sinking boat in the Indian Ocean. It then crossed into Australian waters despite the refusal of entry by the Australian government. The refugees were taken to security holding camps in the Pacific while their eligibility for political asylum was assessed.

View Mr Howard addressing Parliament on MV Tampa, 29 August 2001