Media reports today that four possible unlawful maritime arrivals found on the remote Croker Island in the Northern Territory yesterday represents the latest shocking border security failure under the Albanese Labor government.
If confirmed, this will be the eighth boat that has breached our borders and reached the Australian territory since Labor was elected, and the 23rd attempted people smuggling venture to attempt the journey to Australia.
This comes after the Department of Home Affairs admitted at Senate Estimates last week that it was setting itself easier homework by removing the performance target for aerial and maritime surveillance of our borders from its latest annual report in the knowledge that, as in previous years, these targets would not be met.
This latest boat arrival is an unfortunate but predictable consequence of Labor’s continued neglect of our border protection architecture, which has seen a decrease in aerial flying hours of 21.4% and a decrease of 16% in ABF maritime patrol days compared to 2020-21 levels since Labor took government.
The Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke must immediately act to correct the government’s failed border policies and restore the Operation Sovereign Borders framework in full to the settings maintained by the former Coalition Government.