Labor and the Greens have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the Government’s border protection policy after an asylum seeker boat made it to Christmas Island undetected.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that 28 asylum seekers reached Christmas Island on Monday, with their boat believed to have sunk.
The ABC has been told their presence became known when a few of them were spotted walking along a main road into town.
Thirteen of the asylum seekers are now in immigration detention or on their way there, and another one is in hospital with minor injuries.
Mr Morrison says five asylum seekers have been spotted on the south eastern side of the island, while another nine are believed to be in heavy jungle.
Authorities will continue searching for them at first light.
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Labor, Greens raise concerns about border protection operation
Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles says he spoke to Mr Morrison last night and holds some serious concerns.
“It is an evolving situation and it’s one where I think it’s very important that the Government makes information known to the Australian people. It seems they haven’t,” he said.
“When the Coalition was campaigning for government they said they’d bring to this area of policy the discipline and focus of a targeted military operation.
“I think the question that now needs to be answered is how is it with that discipline and focus that an asylum seeker [boat] has made it to Christmas Island without being detected.”
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young echoed Mr Marles’s concerns, saying authorities must have “taken their eye off the ball”.
“You’ve got to wonder what type of operation they are running that a boat can arrive, crash or sink, people be there for days on the eastern side of the island, and Australian authorities don’t know,” she said.
Senator Hanson-Young also attacked the Government for providing so little information about the incident.
“Christmas Island residents are seeing this for themselves,” she said.
“The fact that we’re getting more information from them than we are the Government just shows what a sham this is.”
• Earlier on TT: TT of the Year … now TASS gets a Human Rights Award
