*1280 Senator Nettle: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs- With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 431 (Senate Hansard, 14 June 2005, p. 168) regarding the sinking of the SIEV X vessel:

(1) What was the evidentiary basis for Senator Vanstone’s answer that the vessel sank in ‘international waters’.

(2) What was the evidentiary basis for Senator Ellison’s statement, in a media release of 8 June 2005, that the sinking occurred in international waters.

(3) (a) Why was the answer to the question, noted above, amended on 13 September 2005 to change the location from ‘international waters’ to ‘unknown location’; and (b) on what evidence was this based.

(4) (a) Why was the press release noted in (2) above amended on 15 July 2005 to change the location from ‘international waters’ to ‘unknown location’; and (b) who authorised the amendment.