Mirabella concerned over sudden rise in People Smuggling

17-April-2009

Federal Liberal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP says she is concerned about a change in Government policy last September that has resulted in a significant increase in dangerous, illegal boats trying to come to Australia’s shores.”

“Between 2002 and 2005 only 1 boat arrived in Australia. Now, since the Rudd Government announced measures to soften border control last September, 14 boats with 455 people have arrived,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Mr Rudd has softened border protection and given the green light to people smugglers. He is sending the wrong signal to the people smugglers and Australia must stand up to this.”

“Australia has a fine record of opening its doors to genuine refugees and in fact had the most second generous refugee intake per capita under the previous Government. However we cannot put the lives, both foreign and Australian in danger by giving greater incentives to international criminal gangs who trade in human lives,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Mr Rudd should stop passing the buck by calling on Indonesia to fix the problem. His Government’s policies and the message he is sending to people smugglers is the problem and he should take responsibility for the new surge in the number of boat people and tighten our border security,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Clearly the recent boat accident is a tragedy no-one would have wanted and we will await the official explanation of exactly what has happened. But the fact of the matter is that the resumption of people smuggling puts people’s lives at risk.”

“In Government we were able to reduce this trade into Australia to virtually zero and we believe strong policies are the right way to protect our borders and prevent lives being put at risk,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Labor tells us we are politicising the issue when we argue for strong border protection policy that is completely false. The Coalition just wants to see our borders protected and the dangerous practice of people smuggling stamped out.”

“The Government cannot expect to escape responsibility for its ill-advised policy choices. People smuggling is inherently dangerous and puts at risk the lives of often desperate people,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“This Government’s policies have given a green light to the resumption of this insidious trade. I urge the Rudd government to reassess its policy and get serious about border protection,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.