15 Illegal Boat Arrivals Sent to Nauru, Australia Refuses Settlement
Albanese reiterated that illegal boat arrivals will not be accepted in Australia, while Ruston argued that the increase in boats was a result of weak border policies.
A boat carrying 15 individuals, suspected to be from China, has arrived on Australian shores illegally.
The individuals were flown straight to Nauru from the Curtin RAAF base, with a brief stop in Queensland en route.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a warning that unauthorized boat arrivals will not be settled in Australia in response to the incident.
This is the third alleged illegal boat arrival in Australia in less than six months, raising concerns about people smuggling.
The group of 15 men arrived by boat in Western Australia’s Kimberley region and walked to Truscott Airbase. One of the individuals went missing shortly after arriving.
WA police and border force conducted a search for the missing individual, who was eventually found near the airbase and reportedly in good health.
During a press conference, Albanese reaffirmed that illegal boat arrivals will not be tolerated in Australia, emphasizing the principles of Operation Sovereign Borders.
Meanwhile, Liberal Senator Anne Ruston criticized the government for its weak border policy, attributing the increase in boat arrivals to this weakness.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson described the boat arrival as the 13th attempt at an illegal people smuggling venture since the election, highlighting concerns about border protection.
Paterson also noted the presence of Chinese nationals on the boat, highlighting the diverse reasons individuals may have for attempting to reach Australia.
Albanese stressed that the government will handle any illegal arrivals in line with Operation Sovereign Borders to protect the country’s borders.
