The Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), a top-secret government spy agency that eavesdrops on all phone and satellite communications in the region, intercepted conversations between Arne Rinnan, captain of the Norwegian container ship Tampa, and officials of the MUA, the ITF, and others in August and September 2001.

The Tampa rescued 438 asylum-seekers after their boat sank in international waters in the Indian Ocean in late August 2001. It was then boarded by Special Air Services (SAS) commandos and prevented from entering Australian waters near the Australian territory of Christmas Island.

According to the February 12 Daily Telegraph, transcripts of the Tampa conversations were passed on to the government of conservative Prime Minister John Howard, which used them to formulate a political response.

After weeks at sea and a campaign of demonization by the government and big-business media marked by "fortress Australia" rhetoric, most of the mainly Afghan and South Asian refugees were dumped at detention camps set up at the demand of the Australian government in Papua New Guinea, a former Australian colony, and Nauru, where they remain. Some 130 went to New Zealand, where virtually all have been given asylum as refugees. Polarization around the issue helped the Howard government win a third term in the November 10 election.

Defense Minister Robert Hill denied any wrongdoing but was quickly forced to admit one "inadvertent" breach of the DSD's guidelines, which was then revealed to have actually been four breaches. He ordered William Blick, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, to investigate the allegations.

Considered the most powerful Australian spy agency, the DSD has a close relationship with the U.S. National Security Agency and the United Kingdom's General Communications Headquarters. Nominally, the DSD has no authority to monitor domestic communications. In reality, its charter provides for exceptions in the case of "serious criminal offenses, or where there is a threat to the life and safety of Australians, or when an Australian is suspected of acting as an agent of a foreign power," according to the Sydney Morning Herald. A February 14 Herald editorial described the DSD's powers as "formidable" and "essential for national security."

Media reports indicate that lawyers for the 438, who were in phone contact with them and challenged the government's actions preventing them from landing in Australian waters, are among those who have complained about the spying.  
 
Union protests spying
The MUA has made a formal complaint. A February 14 statement by the union notes that more and more evidence is emerging "that the government espionage was outside the [DSD's] guidelines, a serious breach of privacy and an intrusion on legitimate union business."

"The government has not been able to justify these outrageous acts," said National Secretary Paddy Crumlin.

"Senator Hill ... claims we were not targeted but this does not rule out we were spied on nevertheless."

"Crumlin has also dismissed statements made by the Minister for Workplace Relations Tony Abbott questioning the unions' right to contact the ship," the statement said.

"All MUA/ITF correspondence with the Tampa was in support and concern for the crew," said Crumlin. "We believed the ship's master was only upholding maritime tradition and international law in rescuing people at sea and we told him so."

Billy Tsilimos, a straddle driver at the Patrick's Port Botany container terminal and an MUA member for 28 years, commented, "Government attacks on us are not new. They started years ago. They're always trying to destroy the union, but we're still strong."

Australian Labor Party leader Simon Crean criticized the government over the allegations. "This isn't a genuine defense matter. This is about spying on Australian citizens to assist with putting together a political strategy around the Tampa. It's not why the government's got powers to listen to telephone calls."

Ron Poulsen, an MUA member who stood in the November 10 election for the Communist League in part to vigorously defend an open border policy for refugees and immigrants, condemned the spying. "Our ability to defend our unions from government attacks is completely tied in with the unions defending not only their own members but also every just cause. Canberra's demonization of refugees has begun to unravel. Thanks to protests by the detainees themselves to assert their humanity, now more working people are coming to realize that we are all in the same boat," he said.

Doug Cooper is a member of the MUA.  
 
 
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