Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says the Government has clearly dropped the ball on border protection as what has been described by the Australian Border Force as a boatload of ‘potential unlawful non-citizens’ came ashore in the Daintree River area at the weekend. 

Mr Katter said, "The one good thing the Liberal Government had going for it was border security and whilst they have been busy playing party games this is what's happened. 

“The Parliament spent a year on citizenship and leadership. No wonder people can walk into our country off a boat anytime they like.” 

The suspected illegal foreign fishing vessel was reportedly carrying 27 people. At least 15 have been detained, according to media reports, but authorities are still searching for the other passengers in the croc-infested region. If they’re found to be asylum seekers, it will be the first illegal boat arrival since 2014. 

Mr Katter reckons the Government needs to get back to stopping the boats and beef-up our border security. 

“The current Member for Leichhardt (which includes the Daintree) spent a year on the same sex marriage vote; back peddled on the banking Royal Commission; and backs the live animal bans - which will destroy the cattle industry in his electorate. 

"This is a classic case. The border needs protection. The most important thing a government has to do is to protect its people. 

"We have no capacity to intercept. There should be boats placed in Karumba, the Torres Strait, the Gove Peninsula and half a dozen boats placed in Darwin and Cairns." 

—ENDS—