November 24, 2023
Boat arrives on Kimberley coast undetected
A group of asylum seekers trekked through the treacherous Kimberley terrain for two days in 35C heat before arriving at a remote airport, after managing to land on the coast by boat - undetected by Australian authorities.
It is understood the boat from Indonesia carrying a dozen men, believed to be asylum seekers, arrived undetected on Tuesday in WA's north.
The men walked through the harsh bushland amid searing temperatures before a group of eight arrived at a remote airport.
It is understood they arrived at the Truscott North Kimberley Airport, about 300km north-west of Kununurra and operated by Wunambal Gaambera traditional owners, early on Wednesday morning.
They told staff at the airfield there were another four men who had arrived with them by boat two days earlier but they were separated during their journey through the rugged Kimberley landscape. Those men arrived at the airport a short time later.
A medic is believed to have checked over all 12 men before they were given food, water and shelter.
The Australian Border Force has not confirmed any such maritime arrivals at this stage, however, it's understood WA Police are currently with the rescued group and Home Affairs staff were expected to arrive at Truscott on Thursday.
WA Police directed questions to the ABF. An ABF spokesperson said it "does not comment on operational matters".
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson said it was a "further sign that Labor has failed on border security". "If confirmed, this would be the 10th people-smuggling venture to attempt to arrive illegally in Australia since May 2022, and reports that they successfully reached the Australian coast are particularly alarming," he said.
Mr Paterson added that Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil was "failing . . . to protect Australia's borders and keep Australians safe".
A High Court decision blindsided the Federal Government on November 8, forcing the release of at least 100 indefinite detainees in immigration detention. The ruling saw 27 detainees released from WA's Yongah Hill Detention Centre, with more likely to follow.
"This comes at the same time as Labor botched the management of the release of . . . dangerous convicted criminals into the community following a foreseeable decision from the High Court the Government failed to plan for," Mr Paterson said. "The minister must immediately . . . share with the public what the Government knows about these reports."
