Four illegal fishing boats intercepted off WA’s northern coast by border protection authorities

The Opposition Leader has lashed out at the Albanese government after four foreign fishing boats were intercepted off Western Australia’s northwest coat.

Peter Dutton says illegal boats have been allowed to “run riot” under the Albanese Labor government after another four foreign fishing vessels were intercepted off the Australian coast.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Opposition Leader accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of gutting Australia’s surveillance capabilities since coming to government in 2022.

“If you take those resources away, people smugglers and those who are involved in illegal fishing and other activities, including running of drugs, they just run riot and that’s what’s happening under this prime minister,” he said in Darwin.

“We had our borders secure, and under a Liberal National Coalition government we can secure our borders again.

“But we know that the government has been conditioned to losing control of the borders.”

The four boats were located off Kuri Bay, about 220km north of Derby, off Western Australia

on Tuesday.

Australian Border Force were called to the area by locals who spotted the boat. Picture: Peter Tucker

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Albanese government had set up Operation Leedstrum through the Australian Border Force (ABF) to address the issue.

“Our position on illegal fishing is very clear – if you are committing a crime in Australian waters you will be tracked down by our agencies and face the full force of Australian law,” Mr Burke said in a statement.

“That’s why we set up Operation Leedstrum – the first time a joint operation had been stood up to confront illegal foreign fishing.

“The joint operation ensures that all available assets are being used to tackle this problem and it has been hugely successful at capturing and seizing or destroying the boats, catch and equipment of criminal fishers.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attacked the government’s border security after four fishing boats were intercepted off WA. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But newly installed Home Minister Tony Burke says his government is addressing the issue through Operation Leedstrum. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dambimangari traditional owner Adrian Lane was conducting cultural mapping of the area when he spotted the first boat stuck in mangroves on Tuesday.

ABF authorities were called in by local tour operator Peter Tucker, where they found a further three foreign fishing boats.

Mr Tucker told 9News there were about 10 men in each of the four boats, with all the men appearing to be in the 20s and 30s.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said over the past two years aerial surveillance of Australia’s borders had dropped by 22 per cent, in addition to a 12 per cent fall on maritime patrol days.

“Labor has failed to protect Australia’s borders and regular breaches like this is the result,” he said.

“It’s not just illegal fishing either – three people smuggling vessels reached the Australian mainland and territories in just the last two years.

“Two of them even dropped people off and returned again undetected, a virtually unheard of event in Australian border protection history.”

He called on Mr Burke to “urgently address” the issues.

“He’ll need to do a much better job than he did when we was last in the portfolio and oversaw 83 boat arrivals carrying 6634 people in just 80 days,” Senator Paterson said.

Four boats were intercepted on Tuesday. Picture: Peter Tucker

On Tuesday night, an ABF spokesperson said the foreign fishing vessels were stopped by the Maritime Border Command as part of Operation Leedstrum.

The campaign focused on increasing patrols and response capabilities focused in far north west Australia, which the spokesperson said includes increased staffing, patrol vehicles and a rotary wing asset for rapid response to any BorderWatch reporting from members of the public.

“The operational response is ongoing and ABF will not comment any further than (to) say ABF/MBC pursues strong enforcement action in cases of illegal foreign fishing, in consultation with (Australian Fisheries Management Authority).”

Comment has been sought from Mr Burke’s office.

Originally published as Four illegal fishing boats intercepted off WA’s northern coast by border protection authorities