WHEN extraordinary allegations first emerged of Australia’s Navy paying human traffickers to sneak people into Indonesia, the Abbott government’s order to ministers was simple: Say nothing.

That was back in June, and the “no comment” strategy has failed to protect the government from renewed claims border protection operations broke international law.

Maybe if there had been a more substantial response — more than a simple denial of law breaches — the matter might not have reappeared. Now the Turnbull government — and in particular former Immigration Minister turned Treasurer Scott Morrison — has been left with a whole lot of explaining to do.

Those allegations have resurfaced in the form of an Amnesty International report which claims to confirm people smugglers caught at sea by the Australian Navy were given cash to take their passengers back to Indonesia.

The Amnesty International claims that last May a boat with six crew and 60 passengers, apparently heading for New Zealand, was intercepted by Australian vessels.

The boat was escorted to Greenhill Island near Darwin and the passengers were allowed to bathe on the Border Force ship.

“It was at this point, on the original boat, that the crew claim the Australian officials gave them money,” the report says.

“The crew told Amnesty International that two of them received $USD6,000 each, and four received $USD5,000 apiece, making a total of $USD32,000.

“One of the 15 asylum seekers who had remained on board described how he saw the captain meeting with the Australians in the boat’s kitchen and saw the captain put a thick white envelope in his shorts’ pocket.”

Amnesty says this is proof Australia was guilty of a transnational crime.

“Australian officials appear to have organised or directed the crew to commit a people-smuggling offence,” the report, out today, states.

“The $USD32,000 (payment) constitutes a financial benefit to the crew to procure the illegal entry” into Indonesia.

The allegations have been flatly — and this time, immediately — rejected by Australian authorities, who continue to insist nothing illegal was done in the enforcement of our tough “stop the boats” border protection policy. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton today called the claims a “slur” on the reputation of Naval personnel.

The reaction has been much quicker than back in June when the claims first appeared.

Back then, Mr Dutton, the minister at the time of the alleged payments, said none had been made and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop agreed.

However, the “operational matters” silence enforced by his predecessor took over.

Suddenly they withdrew their denials, and the official government response was: No comment.

Last June, former immigration minister Scott Morrison said he knew what had happened under his watch but would not tell the public.

Today, a spokesman for Mr Morrison, now the Treasurer, said the minister would not comment on matters that happened when he was not minister.

“I know what we did and I know what it was about and I know it was lawful. [It was lawful] under our law and international law,” he said in one interview.

Mr Morrison then switched tactics and declined to answer any questions, saying he considered the news reports on the matter “commentary”. It was an odd description but he did not relent.

“You are asking for opinions and commentary. I know opinions and commentary are rife among the media on these things but governments have actual responsibility for these things and this government had responsibility for stopping the boats,” he said in one interview.

Asked about the denials by Julie Bishop and Peter Dutton, Mr Morrison further bewildered by saying: “I’m not going to commentate on commentary.

“I’m not going to commentate on your commentary or opinions you may hold or others in this press conference may hold.”

The message finally got through and Ms Bishop and Mr Dutton joined the regiment.

Ms Bishop said: “The question requires me to go to matters of intelligence, security and operations.”

And finally Peter Dutton turned up as well: “We don’t comment in relation to operational matters.”

But some were slow to take up the official line. Former Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock suggested paying people smugglers might have been a good investment.

“The amount of money that was allegedly paid is nothing in comparison to the cost of processing the excessive amount of people who came to Australia as a result of people smuggling activity,” Mr Ruddock said.