Australia, Indonesia team up on smuggling

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is working closely with Indonesia to stop people smuggling, the government says.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told Australia's Channel Nine that Rudd will discuss the topic with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when the two meet Tuesday in Jakarta, the Australian Broadcasting Corp., reported Sunday.

The meeting is coming after Rudd endured criticism from opposition leaders last week over a decision to ask Indonesia to stop a boatload of Sri Lankan refugees from reaching Australia.

"I don't want to give the impression that somehow nothing is happening now. There is very close cooperation with Indonesia, which has meant we have been able to disrupt some people smuggling activity," Gillard told Channel Nine. "It has meant that our Australian Federal Police have been able to charge more than 40 people with people smuggling."