Albanese Government called out amid rise in illegal boats off the Top End

The Albanese Government needs to do more to stop foreign illegals in the Top End, says Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Gerard Maley, who is calling on Australian Border Force to expand its northern operations.

The Albanese Government needs to do more to stop illegal fishing and people smugglers in the Top End, says Northern Territory Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Gerard Maley, who is calling on Australian Border Force to expand its northern operations.

The urgent plea comes after more than a month of Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan claiming there had been a noticeable “lack of enforcement” by federal agencies.

In October, Mr Ryan said there had been a flurry of illegal fishing boat sightings in the Arafura Sea, with some vessels seen camping in island creek lines for days at a time.

For weeks, Northern Land Council Chair Matthew Ryan (pictured) has been warning the nation’s leaders that foreign boats are on the rise in the Top End.

After the ABF refused to comment on the matter, a boat load of apparently Chinese asylum seekers were dumped on Croker Island, prompting Mr Ryan to desperately call on the Federal Government to adapt a “tougher approach”, amid fears of increased risk to biosecurity and health.

On Tuesday, a second group of Chinese nationals was found in West Arnhem Land by local residents.

In response, NT Police deployed to the area where they located eight men and one woman carrying Chinese passports.

A photo taken in January of Australian Border Force officers intercepting an illegal fishing boat in Top End waters. Picture: ABF

On Friday, Mr Maley said the illegal influx was putting the Territory at risk.

“Our government is deeply concerned about the current response to illegal foreign fishing boats in Northern Territory waters,” he said.

“Biosecurity is a critical priority of our government, and the arrival of unlawful foreign nationals poses a significant risk to our economy, environment, and communities.”

Mr Maley says he has approached the Federal Government and Australian Border Force to address the matter. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Maley revealed he had approached Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King on the matter during a meeting in Canberra last week.

Additionally, Mr Maley said he requested Territory federal members Luke Gosling, Marion Scrymgour, and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy to “lobby” on behalf of the Top End.

“I have also asked Border Force to deploy additional resources to monitor NT waters, expand surveillance technology and intelligence sharing, improve communication with NT authorities, and focus on prosecuting and deterring illegal activities.”

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy says the Commonwealth needs to “step up”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Additionally, it’s been revealed NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy met with his ABF and Australian Fisheries Management Authority counterparts.

“This is not a challenge the NT can tackle alone,” Mr Murphy said.

“The Commonwealth must step up to meet its obligations and provide the resources and support necessary to safeguard our waters, environment, and primary industries.”

Ms Scrymgour, the Labor MP for Lingiari, late on Thursday called on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the NT Government to bring together the relevant Commonwealth and Territory agencies and the sea ranger groups, with a view to formalising an enhanced status and enforcement profile for those sea rangers who have undertaken applicable appropriate training.

“Protecting our borders is an area where governments can always do better. The Albanese Labor Government is committed to safeguarding our vast coastlines from illegal arrivals,” Ms Scrymgour said.

“One way of strengthening current arrangements is to continue our resourcing and empowering of Indigenous sea rangers to look after sea country across the Northern Territory’s Top End coastline.

“This will include training in relation to surveillance evidence-gatheringand reporting, and in relation to interaction with unauthorised arrivals.

“The development of legislative frameworks, policies, training and procedures, and the allocation of appropriate resourcing, should be pursued as a matter of urgency.”

Marion Scrymgour MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She said a key prirority would be the addressing of risk scenarios where sea rangers may be placed in harm’s way, especially where weapons may be involved.

“Indigenous sea rangers are often our last line of defence in border protection, such as the Minjilang-based Garngi rangers who located and rescued the four would-be illegal immigrants, and the Maningrida-based Djelk sea rangers who starting in 2002 established a sea ranger program, which has now been adopted by many, including the Gangi Rangers.

“The Djelk sea rangers patrol over an area of approximately 2 million hectares of ocean and islands off the coast, and they have detected and reported the presence of multiple illegal fishing vessels.

“The opportunity exists for the Australian Border Force, relevant Northern Territory Government agencies (in particular the Northern Territory Police), Northern Land Council and representatives of sea ranger groups to facilitate the necessary changes that can make greater use of our Indigenous sea rangers in border security.

“This improved intelligence-led, risk assessment-based approach will complement and enhance Australia’s border enforcement powers, and will result in the better protection of Australia’s sovereign waters.”

Originally published as Albanese Government called out amid rise in illegal boats off the Top End