DRAMATIC details have emerged of how 32 asylum seekers were rescued on a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean after the federal government originally claimed their boat was “intercepted” like other vessels.
In an embarrassment to Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, the Australian Federal Police yesterday said it had “immediately” reported to Mr Clare’s department on Saturday afternoon that the Sri Lankan asylum seekers were involved in a two-hour “rescue” on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The contradiction emerged as two more boats arrived yesterday, further engulfing the Gillard government in a border protection crisis that appears to have no end.
A record month now looms for Labor, with the arrival of the 11th boat within the first 11 days of June.
A total of 717 people have already arrived this month – on track to challenge the 1645 arrivals in August 2001.
Customs and Border Protection yesterday intercepted a boat carrying 110 people northeast of Christmas Island after earlier discovering another vessel carrying 38 passengers and two crew to the northwest.
In the weekend rescue, an AFP spokesman said staff sent a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to North Keeling Island after seeing smoke rising about 24 nautical miles from the main Cocos Island.
The asylum seeker boat had run into the rocky shoreline with the vessel beached but remaining intact.
Those onboard then started a fire and were discovered.
But an AFP officer then had to repeatedly escort the men in life jackets, one-by-one, from the island to a barge anchored 75m offshore.
“Access to North Keeling Island can be difficult and is dependent of weather,” the AFP spokeswoman said.
In a three-paragraph statement released on Sunday before the media reported the rescue details, Mr Clare said: “The (AFP) intercepted a vessel at Cocos (Keeling) Islands overnight.”
Mr Clare’s office yesterday said the description was “standard words” used to provide prompt advice. But Cocos Club president John Clunies-Ross said: “It was not an interception and the rescue was not without risk.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday baulked at explaining the discrepancies.
“I’ll wait until we’ve got the full advice from relevant authorities,” she said.
Opposition border protection spokesman Michael Keenan said: “Why misrepresent what has occurred when the truth will do? The government must clarify what occurred.”
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