Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has voiced his support for the Australian Border Force (ABF) following revelations of the agency’s involvement in transferring fishing boats to individuals suspected of people smuggling. An investigation by The West Australian earlier this year detailed a clandestine operation where asylum seekers on unseaworthy vessels were moved to safer crayfishing boats before being returned to Indonesia.
On November 1, 2023, Nine News aired drone footage showing the ABF’s 110-meter vessel, the Ocean Shield, transporting four cray boats from Kwinana to Broome. The vessel had departed Kwinana on October 29. When questioned during an interview on ABC, Albanese acknowledged the ongoing challenges related to border security but refrained from elaborating on the specifics of the reported smuggling scheme.
“The Australian Border Force keeps our borders secure. They undertake a range of activities which have ensured that unauthorized arrivals aren’t able to stay in Australia,” said Albanese. He emphasized his backing for the ABF’s actions, asserting that the government would remain consistent in its approach to border control.
The investigation by The West Australian revealed that the ABF had been covertly acquiring crayfishing boats in Geraldton, with at least three purchased from a single broker. These boats are intended for mid-ocean handovers to mitigate the risk of asylum seekers drowning on their return journey, as the vessels they originated from tend to be overloaded and unsafe. An industry insider indicated that the ABF had requested a total of ten boats, highlighting the scale of the operation.
In September, the media outlet reported an increase in border patrols along Australia’s northern coastline, although these efforts have not yet reached the levels observed during the previous Coalition government. During a visit to Perth in September, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley criticized the rise in smuggling attempts targeting Western Australia, describing the situation as unacceptable and calling for a re-evaluation of Labor’s border control policies.
The Australian government faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its handling of asylum seekers and border security. While Albanese stands firm in his support for the ABF, the issue of people smuggling remains a contentious topic in Australian politics, with both sides of the aisle needing to address the complexities of maritime immigration.
