Tensions erupt over arrival of six Chinese nationals found wandering in remote Aboriginal community

Tensions have erupted over how the Albanese government should handle the arrival of six Chinese nationals who were found wandering in a remote Aboriginal community on Western Australia’s north coast earlier this week.

Kalumburu was the site of the most recent incursion.

Two of the men were found wandering in and around the Kalumburu Aboriginal community on the far northern Kimberley coast by an off-duty police officer on Monday. A further four men were found by members of the public and border authorities at the townsite on Tuesday.

The Australian Border Force refused to comment on the discovery and said it did not speak on operation matters.

Locals said three Border Force boats were seen off the coast of the community until yesterday morning, and vision shows the men were handed to Australian Border Force officials by WA police.

Loading

They have since been detained.

A search is ongoing for the vessel the men are believed to have been using.

It is the second time a group of foreign nationals have been detained after arriving by boat in the remote Kimberley region since February 2024, and comes amidst a steady rise in the number of illegal fishing boats recorded in Australian waters.

The Liberal Party said the incident represented another border failure for the Albanese government, which has been repeatedly criticised for its approach toward immigration and border security.

Opposition leader Jonno Duniam said the Albanese government had been distracted by its recent dealings with the Middle East and had inadequately responded to the border crisis.

“Perhaps if Tony Burke spent less time covering up secret meetings about bringing former members of ISIS into Australia and more time focused on border security, we wouldn’t be relying on off-duty police officers to pick up illegal arrivals,” he said.

However, Greens Senator David Shoebridge said Australia needed to keep its own immigration challenges in perspective, and the men should be treated as asylum seekers.

“I’ve just got back from a trip to Lebanon and the Middle East countries which are dealing with millions of refugees,” he said.

“And yes, it’s hard and tough, but to get some perspective, a country … with the wealth and resources of Australia should not go into a political meltdown because six people from China have sought asylum.

“The same politicians who will be trying to demonise these six are the same politicians who are demonising China, criticising its policies, people have a right to seek asylum.

“There are people in China who face persecution because of their ethnicity, their religion or their politics, and they have a right to seek asylum.

“If we had a rational debate on this, we would not have the country go into meltdown over six people seeking asylum from a country that doesn’t have the same political standards as us.”

Minister for Immigration Tony Burke has been contacted for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred all questions to the ABF.

Most Viewed in National

Loading