Media Release

Almost 15,000 illegal arrivals this year

Friday 16th November 2012

Julia Gillard is on the eve of recording another milestone of failure on our borders with almost 15,000 people arriving on illegal boats this year, including the 61 arrivals on the latest boat, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today.

“Julia Gillard has set all new records for failure on our borders and is about to break yet another. This has not only resulted in record numbers of people arriving it has also meant record cost, chaos and failure on our borders,” Mr Morrison said.

“Today’s illegal boat means over 1,300 people have arrived on 24 boats this month alone. The discovery of a deceased male on board should be referred to the Western Australian Coroner if necessary.

“People smugglers continue to take advantage of Labor’s half hearted policies and lack of resolve on our borders.

“The record boat arrivals have filled our detention centres once again to bursting point. Over 7,000 people have arrived since Labor announced Nauru and the vast majority are in Australian detention centres and subject to a processing freeze.

“This is leading to heightened tensions in our immigration detention centres, the same tensions that erupted in riots under Minister Bowen only last year.

“The next election will give Australians the opportunity to fix Labor’s chaos on our borders once and for all,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Keenan said: “The tragic circumstances surrounding a deceased passenger onboard the latest boat arrival off Christmas Island needs to be fully investigated by the Government.

“There are questions surrounding this awful incident that must be fully addressed.

“It is also important that appropriate assistance be provided to the officers from HMAS Launceston, who were confronted with this dreadful event and tried, to the best of their ability, to revive the deceased man.

“This terrible event is a reminder about the difficult work our forces are called onto to undertake and the dangers that face people who use the services of people smugglers to come to Australia,” Mr Keenan said.