The ABC has reported that 39 men from Pakistan and Bangladesh have arrived illegally by boat in Beagle Bay, 100 km north of Broome, which is a remote part of Western Australia.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has warned that any unauthorised arrivals will not be allowed to settle permanently in the country.
It told the Guardian that it was “undertaking an operation in the north-west of Western Australia.”
“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.”
Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, claimed that “this government has lost control of our borders”, but the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said Australia’s tough policies had not changed.
The illegal arrivals appeared in good health and were given water at the local store. Later, the men were taken to the local primary school.
One arrival told the ABC he was from Pakistan and had previously lived in Australia. He was deported after having his visa declined. He added that it cost him $8,000 to arrange travel to Australia from Indonesia. The man hoped to claim asylum and bring his wife and children to Australia.
WA Premier Roger Cook told media that this situation has highlighted a need to ensure the north-west coast was adequately protected.
“This is fundamentally a matter for the federal government to resolve. But, it does emphasise just how exposed our vast north-west coast is.”
The new arrivals follow the landing of 12 people at the remote beach 500km north east of Kununurra in November 2023.
These 39 men as per the ABC have now been transferred to Nauru today, where Australia has an offshore detention centre. The Nauru flight left the base in the early hours of Sunday and arrived in Nauru on Sunday afternoon, having stopped briefly at the Amberley base in Queensland.
Support Our Journalism
Global Indian Diaspora needs fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today – with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors – is doing just that. Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon. Buy an annual ‘The Australia Today Membership’ to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
