Border Force warning to people smugglers as Kristina Keneally delivers confusing message on boat turnbacks

Australia’s Border Force has warned people smugglers they won’t be welcome as Kristina Keneally continues to deliver a confusing message on boat turnbacks.

The man tasked with turning back the boats has released an extraordinary video in multiple languages warning Australia’s borders remained closed to people smugglers.

In a stern 32-second clip released on YouTube on Thursday, Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Justin Jones, commander of Maritime and Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders, said the nation’s policies on border protection had not and would not change.

He said the country remained resolute on the point.

Australia's borders are closed to illegal migration, the head of Operation Sovereign Borders – Rear Admiral Justin Jones – tells people-smugglers.

“No one who attempts to travel illegally by boat will settle here, no matter who you are or where you are from, our borders are closed to illegal migration,” Rear Admiral Jones said in the video delivered in multiple languages including Bengali, Sudanese Arabic, Indonesian, Farsi and Kurdish.

“The only way to Australia is on a valid visa. You have zero chance of illegal migration.”

The timing of the video’s release on Thursday has taken many by surprise, with no similar video was made during the 2019 federal election.

While authorities were monitoring chatter among people smugglers during the 2019 election, it was not strong enough to prompt a public warning.

A still image from the “Zero Chance” video released by Maritime Border Command. Picture: Australian Border Force

The ABF said the making of the clip was their own decision.

“The video was not produced at the request of the Government,” a spokesperson told News Corp.

“Joint Agency Task Force Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) is committed to stopping people smugglers profiting at the expense of vulnerable individuals. The primary objective of OSB is to prevent loss of life at sea.”

They would not go into what prompted the video’s release now or when it was actually made.

It is understood the video was prompted by intelligence including online chatter in recent weeks pointing to a renewal of interest by offshore people smugglers – notably in South-East Asia. Most of it was sparked by confusion and debate on whether a change in government could lead to a softening stance on the tough migration policy.

The clip is likely to be seen widely with Operation Sovereign Borders’ social media sites active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The warning came as opposition immigration spokeswoman Kristina Keneally was on Thursday forced to deny she told a group of refugee activists that she would “welcome an approach … to end offshore processing” if Labor was elected after May 21.

A still image from the new video. Picture: Australian Border Force

Labor for Refugees (L4R) members were sent an update in March 2021, after the ALP held a virtual national conference, noting “Kristina stated that until Labor forms government, nothing will change”.

The update went on to say Ms Keneally indicated that “after Labor wins the election and Labor’s refugee policies have resulted in positive outcomes, Kristina would welcome an approach by L4R to end the offshore processing regime”.

But during a fiery media conference, Ms Keneally said she had not seen the information referred to in the story and denied she had ever said words to the effect.

“Let me be clear our policy is Operation Sovereign Borders (and) regional settlement,” she said. “If you attempt to come to Australia by boat, you will not make it. You will be turned back.”

Labor immigration spokeswoman Kristina Keneally denies telling refugee advocates her party would “welcome an approach ... to end the offshore processing regime”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Ms Keneally said around 20,000 people who arrived in Australia by boat before Operation Sovereign Borders would be given permanent protection visas under a Labor government.

“The only people in Australia on temporary protection basis are people who have already been recognised as refugees by a Liberal government. They have lived in Australia for more than 10 years. They work here. They pay taxes, they run businesses,” she said.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton last week sparked debate accusing Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese of “twisting and contorting” on national security and said people smugglers were likely wringing their hands in delight at the prospect of a Labor government.

When asked about the video on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said people smugglers knew that under Labor more than 50,000 people travelled illegally to Australia on more than 820 boats.

“Labor’s constant flip-flopping and back flipping on border protection present the perfect advertising opportunity for people smugglers to market a weakening of Australia’s borders,” Ms Andrews told News Corp.

“Only the Coalition backs the three pillars of Operation Sovereign Borders that have stopped the boats and saved lives at sea – turn backs where safe to do so, regional processing, and temporary protection visas.”

Responding to a video message from Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Justin Jones, revealed by News Corp on Friday, Anthony Albanese said his government will “operate exactly the same policies as the government does”.

“I note that’s precisely the message that is out there from the Defence Department today,” he told Channel Nine.

“So, they are acknowledging that the policies will stay exactly the same, which they will.”

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Originally published as Border Force warning to people smugglers as Kristina Keneally delivers confusing message on boat turnbacks