Illegal boat intercepted near Weipa in Cook electorate
Northern borders
A boat with about a dozen illegal immigrants - reported to be Chinese - has been intercepted near Weipa.
The Australia Border Force and Queensland Police carried out the operation.
Cook MP David Kempton has released an online statement about the upper section of his electorate.
“I have for months been advocating the Federal Government take seriously our porous northern borders after dozens of illegal Indonesian fishing vessels were captured in Torres Strait,” Mr Kempton said.
“That such a large vessel was able to venture so far into Australian waters before being detected proves there is much to be done.”
The ABF has intercepted at least five foreign fishing vessels and destroyed them at sea this year as part of Operation Broadstaff.
The Federal Government also committed more funding in this year’s budget to strengthen patrols in Australia’s northern waters.