The federal government has ruled out paying a ransom to have Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell released from his kidnappers in the Philippines. Mr Rodwell, 53, has pleaded for his life in a video sent to his Filipina wife and has told her his captors are demanding a $US2 million payment. Mr Rodwell was taken from his home on the southern island of Mindanao on December 5. Human Services Minister Brendan O’Connor said the government was doing everything it could to have the former Sydneysider released, but said Australia had a bipartisan policy of not paying ransom demands to kidnappers. “Indeed our focus at the moment is really ensuring that we do everything we can to have Mr Rodwell released. That should be our focus, that is our focus and the embassy is doing everything it can to ensure that ultimately happens.” “Our concerns are for him and our thoughts are with his family and the embassy will be doing everything they can to ensure his release,” he said. It is believed the video was made a week after Mr Rodwell was seized by gunmen and then sent to his wife as proof that her husband was still alive. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade today said its “primary focus” remained Mr Rodwell’s welfare. “Our embassy in the Philippines is working closely with local authorities with support from a whole-of-government taskforce in Canberra,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

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