Federal election 2022
Australian Border Force has safely returned an asylum seeker vessel to Sri Lanka in the first successful boat turn-back under the new Albanese government.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and Treasurer Jim Chalmers gave the direction this week to Border Force to continue with the boat turn-back after the vessel was intercepted to the west of Christmas Island on Saturday morning.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles (pictured) gave the direction with Treasurer Jim Chalmers to continue with the boat turnback.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Tuesday that Anthony Albanese’s government would look into the boat’s arrival on election day after senior Labor members questioned the timing of the announcement and the Liberal Party’s immediate mass text messages about it to voters.
Minutes after being sworn in as the nation’s new prime minister on Monday, Albanese accused the Liberal Party of playing politics with national security over the incident.
Rear Admiral Justin Jones, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, said the policy of the Australian government remained unchanged following the election.
“The direction to me by the Acting Prime Minister was clear – this government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and to the protection of lives at sea,” he said in a statement to this masthead.
“I, as Commander will continue to do what is necessary to deter people smugglers. We will intercept any vessel seeking to reach Australia illegally, and safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin or, if not safe to do so, they will be transferred to regional processing.”
As is standard practice, Jones said each passenger underwent a “thorough assessment” of their health and any grounds for protection by highly trained and specialised staff.
“All passengers were screened out from evoking Australia’s protection obligations,” he said.
“Following these assessments, all passengers were safely returned to Sri Lanka.
“My message to people smugglers attempting illegal maritime ventures to Australia is clear, don’t risk your life on a dangerous journey, Australia’s policies have not changed, a legal and safe pathway is the only way to a life in Australia.”
Immediately after the disclosure of the boat arrival on Saturday, the Liberal Party began texting voters in marginal seats: “BREAKING – Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today.”
Albanese said on Monday the new government would “put Australia’s national interests first, and not attempt to play politics with national security issues”.
“I think we saw some politics played with national security issues on Saturday afternoon, and there are millions of Australians who received text messages on Saturday afternoon that demonstrated that is the case,” Albanese said shortly before flying off to Japan to meet his American, Indian and Japanese counterparts.
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