Is the public being left out at sea over illegal boats entering Australian waters in Far North Queensland KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter asked Parliament on Thursday.
“We have heard that Australian Border Force intercepted a people smuggling boat in Gulf of Carpentaria waters near Weipa recently, yet we, who live in FNQ are being kept in the dark.
“The lack of openness is a huge slap in the face to locals who live near these ocean borders and we need answers, not silence,” Mr Katter said.
In a parliamentary question in writing, tabled on Thursday, Mr Katter asked for confirmation and further details, including the number of people on the boat, their current location, if the passengers are Chinese nationals and what is the threat level posed to Australians living in FNQ.
“Taxpayers pay for a national security network. Yet, when a boat arrives near our towns, the government refuses to give the public the facts. The silence proves the government is asleep at the wheel and we demand immediate answers,” he said.
“And these boat arrivals, reported to be happening all across northern Australia, are just the ones we know of, let alone all the foreign fishing boats continuously camping up our rivers and on remote islands.
“But who can blame them when we won’t fish our own waters, having one of the smallest commercial catches in the world, while they’re going to bed hungry every night?
“Of course, a people without land or resources will look for a land of resources without people, and with our exposed northern coastline unprotected and barely inhabited, we’re just asking for it,” Mr Katter said.
The Home Affairs minister was also asked if government had contacted the Chinese Government to discuss the issue.
If his questions have not been answered by the minister within 30 days, Mr Katter said he will be personally following the issue up.