Australia reveals it has turned back 28 asylum seeker boats in past three years
21 Vietnamese, including four children, deported earlier this month after boat was intercepted
The Australian government says it has turned back 28 boats to prevent asylum seekers from reaching Australia during three years in power, with the latest carrying 21 Vietnamese intercepted this month.
The conservative coalition government on Wednesday warned that the boats would start coming from Indonesian ports in greater numbers if the centre-left Labour Party wins a national election set for July 2.
Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton said the 21 Vietnamese, including four children, where returned to Vietnam after their refugee claims were assessed and rejected at sea. He declined to give details of the interception.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten says a Labour government would maintain the same tough policies that have prevented any asylum seekers from reaching Australia by boat for two years.
Rhetoric around Canberra’s controversial immigration policy has ramped up ahead of polls, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has denounced a Labour opposition pledge to allow illegal migrants already in Australia to stay permanently.