minister media release

Border Protection Command intercepts vessel - 29 April 2010

Border Protection Command yesterday successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.

HMAS Wollongong, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the vessel during the afternoon of 28 April, west of West Islet, Ashmore Islands. The vessel was identified by a Dash 8 aircraft, under the control of Border Protection Command.

Initial indications suggest there are 24 passengers and three crew on board the vessel.

The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo identity, security and health checks and their reasons for travel will be established.

While their nationality is yet to be confirmed, if these asylum seekers are Sri Lankan or Afghan nationals, their claims will not be considered for at least three and six months respectively, under a processing suspension introduced by the Government on 9 April 2010.

The suspension was introduced because of the evolving circumstances in these two countries. The Australian Government believes that asylum seekers should only be granted the right to live in Australia if they are genuinely in need of protection.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2009 report on Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialised Countries, the number of arrivals to Australia remains very low by world standards. In 2009, some 377,200 asylum claims were recorded in 44 countries with Australia receiving 6,170 – less than 2 per cent of the total asylum applications.

Australia was not alone in experiencing an increase in asylum seeker applications in 2009. While Australia had a 29 per cent increase, Denmark experienced a 59 per cent increase, Hungary a 50 per cent increase, Finland a 47 per cent increase, Poland a 47 per cent increase, Belgium a 40 per cent increase, and New Zealand a 36 per cent increase.

The Australian Government has committed more than $654 million to implementing a comprehensive people smuggling strategy to combat this issue.

The Government has expanded its presence in the region with the Australian Federal Police, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service recently setting up or expanding liaison posts devoted to deterring irregular migration.

Contact: Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567 or Customs and Border Protection media (02) 6275 6793