April 9, 2024
The federal Opposition is demanding an explanation over the arrival of more asylum seekers in Western Australia, accusing Labor of having "no idea what to do to get them back under control".
Asylum seekers who arrived by boat at a remote air base in the Kimberley region have been transported to Australia's offshore detention facility on Nauru as concerns grow over an increase in boat people.
Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said it was the third illegal boat to arrive on Australian shores in the last five months.
"There's been three in the last five months that have made it to the Australian mainland, dropped off asylum seekers, and left again without being detected," Senator Paterson said on Sunrise on Monday morning.
"That's among 13 boats that have attempted to make the journey to Australia since the election last two years.
"It's clear the Prime Minister has lost control of our borders. He has no idea what to do to get them back under control again."
It is believed the latest asylum seekers are Chinese, only the second boat of Chinese people
James Paterson.
to be detected since 2012. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday maintained that no changes needed to be made to Operation Sovereign Borders, Australia's border protection regime, despite the spike in arrivals.
"People smugglers will always try to change their methods in order to ply what is the dangerous trade. But there is no change to Operation Sovereign Borders. It's important that message be sent," he said.
"We'll use all avenues at our disposal to make sure that the borders are protected."
Shadow Attorney-General Dan Tehan also said that Labor had dropped the ball on border protection. "The problem is Labor has got a very, very poor track record," Mr Tehan told 2GB on Monday morning.
