Asylum-seeker arrivals pass 220 in 24 hours as two boats intercepted

MORE than 220 asylum seekers have arrived in 24 hours, in a sign that people smugglers are exploiting the impasse over border protection.

asylum seekers

MORE than 220 asylum seekers have arrived in the last 24 hours in the clearest sign yet that people smugglers are exploiting the political impasse over border protection.

Customs and Border Protection Command have intercepted two new asylum boats, the second of which was intercepted north east of Christmas Island this afternoon carrying 167 people, making it the largest of its kind in 2011.

The first boat was picked up late last night north of Broome near the Lacepede Islands. On board were 54 Afghan asylum seekers and two crew.

A teenage boy in today's group had difficulty moving his arms and legs and the Immigration Department understands he has cerebral palsy, The Australian has been told.

A mix-up over buses yesterday left about 30 adults and children stranded on the jetty at Christmas Island for about 45 minutes as the mercury reached 31 degrees. Some of the boatpeople seemed to be struggling in the sun and humidity.

Immigration officials and guards from contractor Serco rushed bottles of water to them. An elderly woman was put into a wheelchair and someone brought her an umbrella.

The arrivals came as Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus and Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor handed over new patrol boats to Indonesian authorities in Jakarta today.

The two interceptions are part of a clear surge in smuggling activity which has seen more than 1100 asylum seekers arrive in the last five weeks.

The spike in arrivals follows the failure of the major parties to reach an agreement in mid-October restoring onshore processing and the Gillard government’s subsequent announcement that boat people will be housed in the community and given work rights, rather than being kept in detention centres.

The high number of arrivals also fulfils a warning given by Immigration Department head Andrew Metcalfe that the collapse of offshore processing would see an average of 600 boat arrivals a month.