The last group of asylum-seekers intercepted in January told officials there would soon be a government in Australia more sympathetic to their plight.
The same thing was spruiked to men on Manus Island, who were convinced to resist the offer of US resettlement in the hope there would soon be a Labor government in charge. The medevac bill was pushed as proof of intent.
Another boat was reported to have left India in March. It was never seen again and is assumed lost at sea. It is not a stretch of the imagination to assume the people on that boat, as with those on the latest venture, were sold a fantasy.
Their arrival and subsequent return proves two things: first, the re-election of the Morrison government denies people-smugglers a business model; and second, any softening of our policies would see a swift recommencement of the trade.
People-smugglers follow politics in Australia more intently than most Australians do. This latest attempt to test the net presents Anthony Albanese with a first test.
Having accepted last year that the Coalition’s turn-back policy had worked — after opposing it in 2015 — he will be asked to clarify what changes if any there will be to Labor policy under his leadership.
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It’s a fair bet the 20 Sri Lankans trying to reach Australia by boat were sold a pup by people-smugglers. We don’t know what they told authorities when they were found sailing into Australian waters, but there is no doubt as to the timing of their departure — week three of the election campaign.