November 24, 2023
The Coalition has accused Labor of failing on border security following reports of an asylum-seeker boat arriving in northern Western Australia.
The group of 12 people arrived about 36km west of the remote Aboriginal community of Kalumburu along the Kimberley coastline and are reportedly with police.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the illegal maritime arrival was a "further sign" Labor's border security measures were failing.
"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.
"Under Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil and Labor, border security is getting worse every month." Mr Paterson said the arrival was the "predictable result" of Labor "dismantling" key pillars of Operation Sovereign Borders and "ripping $600m from border security" in the latest federal budget.
