Australian Border Force (ABF) are investigating after a group of more than 20 men from Bangladesh and Pakistan told locals in a remote Western Australian town they arrived by boat.
Border Force confirmed they were conducting an operation in the northwest of the state on Feb. 16, saying anyone who arrived by boat would never be able to settle permanently in Australia.
Residents discovered the men in the township, which is about 100 kilometres north of Broome, at about 9.30 a.m. in Western Australian time.
In a statement, the Border Force said, “The ABF is undertaking an operation in the northwest of Western Australia. As this operation is ongoing, no further information will be provided.”
“Australia’s tough border protection policies means no one who travels unauthorised by boat will ever be allowed to settle permanently in Australia. The only way to travel to Australia is legally, with an Australian visa.”
Asked about the arrival, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not able to provide any detail, saying he had been on the road.
Opposition Leader Demands Answers
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton jumped on the news of the suspected boat’s arrival to demand the prime minister and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil explain to the Australian public.“I think the prime minister has had a shocking week, he hasn’t been able to answer questions in relation to releasing 149 criminals into the community, and I think there are very significant issues when the prime minister of our country is not even aware, hasn’t received any briefing, doesn’t have the protections put in place, with surveillance mechanisms to pick up a boat that arrives on our shores.
“We don’t know any of the detail yet because the prime minister is refusing to provide the detail and claims he doesn’t know anything about it, and yet if the prime minister doesn’t know anything about it, and the minister doesn’t know anything about it, it demonstrates the government has lost control of our borders.
“Clearly, the settings that the government has got in place aren’t sufficient. The prime minister is showing a lack of leadership, a lack of strength, and a weakness that is music to the ears of these people smugglers.”
The ABF said Australia “remains committed to protecting its borders, stamping out people smuggling and preventing vulnerable people from risking their lives on futile journeys.”
“The people smuggling business model is built on the exploitation of information and selling lies to vulnerable people who will give up everything to risk their lives at sea,” the ABF said.
