Anthony Albanese says ‘no changes’ will be made to Operation Sovereign Borders after police locate missing asylum seeker in remote Western Australia

It comes after police apprehended a missing man after a group of asylum-seekers were discovered in a remote part of Western Australia.

Anthony Albanese says he has sent a “very clear message” that illegal boat arrivals will not be accepted into Australia after a group of asylum seekers were discovered in a remote part of WA.

Police have apprehended a man who became separated from a group of 15 people who were found at the remote Mungalalu Truscott Airbase in the far north Kimberley region on Friday afternoon.

Questioned over border security concerns, the prime minister argued there will be no changes made to the nation’s approach to border protection in response to the latest arrival.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he won’t be changing Operation Sovereign Borders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Appleyard

“We have a very large coastline. What is clear, though, is that people who are unauthorised arrivals will not be settled in Australia,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Sunday.

“Operation Sovereign Borders principles will apply as they have been in this case.”

Liberal Senator James Paterson said reports the 15 people arrived from China were ‘unusual’ . Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire.

The boat arrival is understood to be the third illegal maritime landing on Australian soil in under six months.

A plane carrying the rest of the group to an offshore detention centre in Nauru departed RAAF Curtin base in Western Australia on Sunday morning, according to reports from The Australian.

On Sunday, Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson Home described the situation as a “failure” and claimed the arrival would incentivise people smugglers to attempt to enter Australia.

“Aerial surveillance hours under this government’s watch have dropped 20 per cent, maritime patrol days have dropped 12 per cent, and the result of that is people are getting through, they are getting onshore, and our border protection regime is being undermined,” he said.

“It’s no surprise that people smugglers are testing their (the government’s) will.”

The unknown vessel is believed to have reached mainland Australia on Friday afternoon, near the Mungalalu-Truscott Airbase.. Picture: Google Maps

Reports of the arrival have not been confirmed by either Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil or by the Australian Border Force, as per standard practice.

“The Australian Border Force does not confirm or comment on operational matters,” an ABF spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil did not give further details.

“As a long-standing practice we do not comment on operational matters,” the spokesperson said.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has refused to comment. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Saturday’s incident is the third unknown boat to have reached the WA coastline since November.

In February, a boat carrying two groups of 39 Pakistan and Bangladesh foreign nationals were found on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome.

In November last year, Sovereign Borders Commander Rear Admiral Justin Jones confirmed a group of 12 refugees surpassed naval border forces, and reached the Truscott-Mungalalu Airbase.

In both incidents, they were intercepted by the ABF, and taken to Nauru.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese says ‘no changes’ will be made to Operation Sovereign Borders after police locate missing asylum seeker in remote Western Australia