The prime minister says even people who are at the top of their game can occasionally make a mistake

Navy's Indonesia incursions like catch dropped in cricket, says Tony Abbott

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tony Abbott praises the navy in light of Australia's apology to Indonesia

The prime minister, Tony Abbott, has likened Australian navy incursions into Indonesian waters to a Test cricketer dropping a catch.



A joint Customs and Defence internal review is investigating how Australian vessels unintentionally sailed into Indonesian territory as part of Operation Sovereign Borders.

The incursions reignited tensions between Canberra and Jakarta, triggered by revelations Australian intelligence agencies had tapped the phones of the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his inner circle.

Abbott said Australia deeply regretted the incursions and had fully apologised. "I think the Indonesians have accepted our apology," he said.

Asked how the incursions could happen with GPS technology and highly skilled personnel, Abbott said: "On the high seas all sorts of things happen."

He said even people who were at the very top of their game occasionally made mistakes. "Test cricketers drop catches, great footballers occasionally miss tackles," he said. Abbott vowed such incursions would not happen again.

He also defended his government's tough approach to border protection, saying 40 days had gone without the arrival of an asylum seeker boat.



