High level talks with the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs
Joint Media Release with the Hon Robert McClelland - Attorney-General and the Hon Brendan O'Connor - Minister for Home Affairs
Attorney-General Robert McClelland, Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor, and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans, today met with Malaysia's Minister of Home Affairs, Hishammuddin Hussein, as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation to address maritime people smuggling, counter-terrorism and immigration issues.
The meeting follows the Prime Minister's visit in July to Malaysia.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said Australia valued its close relationship with Malaysia.
'Cooperation between our two countries is vital to Australia's efforts to address significant transnational organised crime, including people smuggling and counter-terrorism,' Mr McClelland said.
'Today's meeting was a valuable opportunity to build on this strong cooperation.'
Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor reflected on the importance of Australia's relationship with Malaysia to address maritime people smuggling issues.
'In the recent Budget, the Australian Government committed more than $654 million to implement a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to combat people smuggling and enhance border protection,' Mr O'Connor said.
'This strategy includes working closely with other countries to prevent and deter people smuggling by those seeking to enter Australia.
'Malaysia's strong commitment to tackle people smuggling and trafficking is important to address these regional issues.
'Australia values its cooperation with Malaysia both bilaterally and through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime,' Mr O'Connor said.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said that continuing engagement between Australia and Malaysia on immigration issues, underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding on immigration cooperation, was vitally important.
'Today's meeting with Minister Hishammuddin was an excellent opportunity to discuss immigration and border issues that affect both our countries,' Senator Evans said.
'The Australian Government works closely with our neighbours to address issues such as people smuggling. These are global issues and the continuing close cooperation of Malaysia and other countries is vital to our efforts,' Senator Evans added.
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2009/ce09069.htm
Last update: 04 August 2009 at 13:47 AEST