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The Australian Border Force is calling for political unity after two groups of asylum seekers arrived within hours of each other undetected in Western Australia.
Thirteen men, believed to be from India and Bangladesh, turned up at an Indigenous campsite just hours after 30 asylum seekers were found in the town of Beagle Bay, north of Broome, on Friday afternoon.
All are believed to have since been sent to offshore processing in Nauru.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied he lost control of the nation’s borders.
Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram said division among policy-makers affected the way Australia’s border rules were perceived by people smugglers.
The force said it was already operating under heightened concerns over people smuggling operations after the High Court last year ruled to release indefinitely detained migrants.
Criticisms mounted against Albanese following the discovery of the two boats.
“We’ve got a weak prime minister when it comes to our borders,” Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said.
“It’s inconceivable that these boats would get through without being detected.”
“This is all about the makings of the government and the perception that people smugglers are able to sell,” Nationals leader David Littleproud said.
“I think what the people smugglers are figuring out is this government is weak on national security, weak on border security and they’re now testing the prime minister,” shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie told Sky News.
Albanese defended himself, insisting his government has not lost control of the borders and said he will not politicise national security matters.
“We’re very confident that operation sovereign borders remains in place and we are implementing the policies that we said we would,” he said.
The group of asylum seekers were found hours after another group was located on Friday morning in the same area, bringing the total number of arrivals to more than 35.
The Pender Bay campsite is a remote tourist destination managed by a local Indigenous family.
The men were reportedly found by Beagle Bay locals on Friday morning along dirt tracks leading into the community.
One of the men, who identified himself as Muhammad, spoke to media.
“I don’t want to go back,” he said.
“They don’t like treating us like a human being.”
