Fed: Boat arrives unannounced on Christmas Island

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2009
Fed: Boat arrives unannounced on Christmas Island

The federal opposition says the apparently undetected arrival of a boat carrying 45
people on Christmas Island is an extremely serious development.

Immigration spokeswoman SHARMAN STONE says there are shocking implications for Australia's
security in yesterday's arrival of asylum seekers at a jetty on the island.

Home Affairs Minister BOB DEBUS has confirmed a group of 45 people arrived by boat
on Christmas Island early yesterday.

They bring to 160 the number of suspected illegal immigrants detained by authorities
in the last week.

Mr DEBUS says the new arrivals will be detained to undergo health .. security and other
checks to establish their identity.

But Ms STONE says the arrival raises serious questions about the efficiency of the
government's revamped border security agency.

She says if the reports are true that this boat passed within half a kilometre of a
naval vessel with other unauthorised arrivals on board .. then this is really serious.

AAP RTV was/wz/af

KEYWORD: BOAT (PERTH)

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