People smugglers try new tactic
At least two asylum seeker boats have been turned back to Indonesia in recent weeks as people smugglers try to depict Immigration Minister Peter Dutton as soft on border protection.
Sources told The West Australian that criminal syndicates were using social media and SMS alerts to tell would-be boat people that Mr Dutton was more compassionate than his predecessor Scott Morrison. The Government responded with increased disruption activities and a social media campaign of its own.
A video from Mr Dutton emphasises continuing the hard line on border protection.
It is believed a Customs vessel was last night moving to intercept an asylum vessel from Indonesia and officers would probably try to turn it back if the vessel was capable.
Indonesian media reported last week that asylum seekers claimed to have made it to Christmas Island but were sent back on the same boat. But Australian authorities insist no asylum seeker vessels have made landfall in recent months.
The boat people, six Iranians, two Nepalese and seven Bangladeshis, were found off West Java on Sunday.
Though details of turn-backs remain secret, it is understood Customs repaired the engines of asylum seeker boats in recent months so they could be turned back.
Lt-Gen. Angus Campbell, the head of the boat turn-back regime Operation Sovereign Borders, was named the Chief of Army yesterday.
The former Special Air Service Regiment officer replaces Lt-Gen. David Morrison.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to say yesterday if Australia had turned back any boats recently. He said the Government never commented on operations.
When The West broke news last year that boats had been turned back, Immigration Department head Michael Pezzullo asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate the leaks.
