May 13, 2024
Media reports today that four unauthorised maritime arrivals were found in Broome on Friday represents yet another shocking failure of border protection under the Albanese Labor Government.
It follows recent reports of 33 illegal boat arrivals at Christmas Island and five on Saibai Island in Far North Queensland in the last week alone.
This is now the sixth boat that has breached our borders and reached Australian territory in the last six months, and the 17th attempted people smuggling venture to make the journey to Australia under the Albanese government.
This latest attempt comes after the Albanese Labor Government has repeatedly undermined Operation Sovereign Borders by abolishing temporary protection visas, planned cuts to border security funding of $436 million over the forward estimates, a reduction of funding for strategic communications and a decrease in aerial flying hours of 20.7% and a 12.2% decrease in maritime patrol days.
This is just the latest in a cascading set of failures under the current government that have left Australians less safe, less secure, and less certain.
Labor must immediately correct its failed border policies and restore the Operation Sovereign Borders framework in full to the settings maintained by the former Coalition Government.
ENDS
