A political storm is brewing for the Federal Government after a boatload of 12 people arrived undetected on Australian shores.
It remains to be determined today whether the group, who landed in remote Western Australia, are asylum seekers or fishermen.
Nine Network’s Chief Political Editor Charles Croucher told Today this morning that the government will stick to a long-standing policy of not commenting on the arrival, but the incident poses a major political headache.
“We have seen that over the last decade or so that this can be a perilous and sometimes fatal journey. That’s why there will be concern this morning,” he said.
And the Albanese government will be reluctant to fight any political battle over unauthorised boat arrivals, a subject the Opposition is regarded as strong on.
“The other thing those inside government will say to you, is that the one thing that spurs boat arrivals more is the discussion of boat arrivals,” Croucher said.
“The talk of it in general begins that process again and helps the people smuggling ventures.”
The Indonesian vessel arrived on the Anjo Peninsula in Western Australia’s remote north-east, the ABC reports.
Its occupants were “not in good shape” and picked up by local Indigenous residents before they were arrested by police.
The boat has not been found.
The Australian Border Force has been contacted by 9news.com.au for comment.
Opposition home affairs spokesperson Senator James Paterson said the reports were “alarming”.
“Reports of an illegal maritime arrival in northern Western Australia is a further sign that Labor has failed on border security,” he said in a statement.
“If confirmed, this would be the tenth people smuggling venture to attempt to arrive illegally in Australia since May 2022, and reports that they successfully reached the Australian coast are particularly alarming.”
