The arrival by boat of around 40 men, suspected to be asylum seekers, in remote Western Australia this week ((first arrivals discovered Fri 16 Feb)) . This has seen harsh words exchanged by the federal government and the opposition.
The men, reportedly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, were discovered near a remote Indigenous community close to the former West Australian church mission of Beagle Bay.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed he had spoken with Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, Australia's military-led border security operation. Following reports three groups of boat arrivals had been found.
The Federal government’s opposition leader Peter Dutton, speaking on this on Sunday, (18 Feb)during the the Liberal Party launched its candidate for the crucial Dunkley by-election. He has continued to attack the prime minister's personal record on border security.
But comments from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton that the government did not support the operation, The prime minister has accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of politicising border security.
commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter has previously said alternative narratives about the arrivals had the potential to be exploited by people smugglers.
But members of the opposition, including opposition’s defence spokesman Andrew Hastie and Nationals party leader David Littleproud, said the news is evidence the government is weak on border security and Border Force funding.
Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has defended the government's record, saying that “Operation Sovereign Borders” has been operating in "exactly the same" way since it was introduced under the previous Liberal Coalition government.
Federal Opposition leader Dutton says the operation is now "nothing like" how it was under the Liberal party.
The A-B-C media has reported a Nauru Island Airlines plane carrying some of the men left Broome and arrived in Nauru in the early hours of Sunday morning, after arriving at an air force base near Derby on Saturday ((17 Feb)).
Labor Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook has said he's not concerned by the incident but has highlighted the defensive vulnerability of the region.
The government has not confirmed reports of arrivals being sent offshore, but a statement from Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil has said the government's commitment to Operation Sovereign Borders is "absolute".
She has added that every person who has attempted to reach Australia unlawfully by boat since she has been Minister, is back in their home country, or in Nauru, after what she describes as having "wasted thousands of dollars" and "risked their lives."
Prime Minister Albanese has said the public can expect to be provided with an update by border force authorities imminently
