Peter Dutton concedes he missed a boat after Queensland arrivals
Peter Dutton says those detained from a Vietnamese boat would probably be deported “at the first available opportunity”.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has admitted “failings” with Australia’s border security after more than a dozen illegal immigrants arrived on a Vietnamese boat this week — the first people-smuggling venture to reach the country in almost four years.
Two “brothers from Vietnam” — taken crab-fishing by far north Queensland locals who found them in crocodile-infested mangroves — were among the 12 confirmed arrests following the vessel’s arrival on Sunday.
Late yesterday, authorities were still seeking two others and had established roadblocks near the mouth of the Daintree River, close to where the boat was discovered, Queensland Police said.
Mr Dutton yesterday confirmed the vessel was believed to have travelled from Vietnam and some passengers remained at large in the region.
“Clearly there’s been a failing when surveillance has not worked as it should in identifying this vessel or allowing this vessel to get as close to the coastline as it has,” Mr Dutton said. “But it’s a reminder that these people-smugglers have not gone out of business.”
Mr Dutton said all those detained would probably be deported “at the first available opportunity”.
The Australian understands a plane carrying some detainees was scheduled to arrive on Christmas Island from Cairns, via Darwin, overnight.
There had been mixed messages about the matter, with Scott Morrison telling reporters the boat was a “fishing vessel” and the government had “stopped the boats”.
The arrest of several of the men yesterday — including that of a man who was seen running away from police along a road — was captured by television crews.
However, it was not Australian Border Force officials but fishermen Ken McCord and father-in-law Dave Rosenheim who said they first spotted the vessel floating about a kilometre offshore on Sunday morning, with raft-type tubs nearby.
They reported the boat to authorities and later climbed aboard after being asked to take a closer look to confirm no one remained with the vessel.
“There was no real fishing gear on the boat,” Mr McCord said.
“It had lights around it (like) a sort of a squid boat. There were 50 to 60 bags of rice on there and a whole heap of fresh water in those drums up on the front. Obviously it was a planned trip.”
Mr McCord said he and other fishermen were towing the boat closer to shore when they realised it was sinking.
He said police in Cairns handled the situation well, but ABF officials who spoke to him after he reported the vessel appeared in disbelief that such a boat had arrived in Australia.
Later, just before 2pm on Sunday, Cairns airconditioner installer Justin Ward said he and a neighbour found two men in the mangroves near the mouth of the Daintree River and helped them aboard their boat.
Mr Ward said the “humble” men described themselves as brothers.
“(One) said he wasn’t a fisherman,” Mr Ward said. “They said they were from somewhere near Hanoi — just north of Hanoi.”
Mr Ward said the men did not speak English well, but “we got a few messages across” — including the fact that they would be handed over to authorities.
“We apologised — ‘this is it, this is your last chance of freedom’ … we had a bit of a chat, got to know them a little bit, took our time and went crabbing.”
Queensland Police Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor said all those arrested were in “good health” and police searches had concentrated on waterways in an attempt to limit the risks to the fugitives.
“The location is a great spot to visit if you are aware of what you are doing and aware of the dangers, but obviously if you are not familiar with that type of country it can be quite hazardous,’’ he said.
Mr Taylor said the men’s unusual behaviour had caused locals to alert police to the situation.
He said police were first advised by a concerned boatie who had seen an abandoned craft, and other people claimed to have witnessed “a number of persons running into the mangroves”.
Asked about Mr Ward’s crabbing excursion with two of the men, Mr Taylor said it was “a very hospitable community up there” and police and the ABF would look into the incident.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sought to link the incident to the leadership challenge in Canberra, calling for a full investigation into how the asylum-seekers were able to breach border security as she lashed out at Mr Dutton.
“I hope that the dysfunction that we have seen in Canberra over the last few days has not contributed to the minister responsible taking his eye off the ball, so I want to see that full investigation happen,’’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
Daintree local Peter Hughes, whose holiday rental home Baku Beach House is directly opposite where the boat ran aground, was told the remaining men were believed to be hiding on the northern side of the mouth of the Daintree River.
One Nation’s Pauline Hanson attacked the Australian government for failing to “remain tough on illegal people-smuggling”.
additional reporting: Paige Taylor
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