One asylum seeker boat arrived this week - but details still kept from media

ONE asylum seeker boat arrived in the past week amid an Indonesian police blitz that has arrested eight people smugglers, issued a warrant for a kingpin and stopped 550 would-be asylum seekers since the federal election. 
 
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison yesterday used his latest Operation Sovereign Borders briefing to warn people based in Australia helping people smugglers that they faced jail and cancellation of their own visas if caught.

But the briefing descended into farce as basic details were again kept secret before Australia's second most senior Defence chief, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, declared "if I haven't reported it, it hasn't happened''.

He reported that the latest boat arrived near the Cocos (Keeling) Islands late yesterday.

But he declined to provide details because it had not been processed before 9am yesterday, the cut-off for the weekly briefing.
 

Operation Sovereign Borders Acting Commander Air Marshal Mark Binskin. AFP Photo/William West Source: AFP

 

Air Marshal Binskin said details of the arrival would be provided at next week's briefing but that other secret information such as nationalities or whether boats were being turned back was operational.

"We're transparent, but we do work a timeline, 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock,'' he said.

It was the first boat in the first 10 days of October, which last year recorded 44 boats and 2255 people during the whole month.

It is understood March 2012 was the last time there was at least a 10-day gap between arrivals.

Since Operation Sovereign Borders began three weeks ago, 215 people have arrived and been transferred.
A total of 402 people had been sent to offshore processing centres.

This included a total of 111 people who were transferred to offshore processing centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island in the past week.

The briefing came after Australian Federal Police chiefs had returned from a trip to Indonesia, where local police have issued a an arrest warrant for a significant people smuggling identity.

AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said there had been 17 disruptions of people smuggling since the federal election, stopping 550 people from getting on boats.

This had produced eight arrests - including five crew members and three "high value'' targets who had organised and facilitated journeys - with all hit with multiple charges.

Mr Morrison also said the government had commenced negotiations for a five-year deal with Nauru after the previous government had only funded facilities to January 1.

He said the AFP would also get extra funding but details would come in the budget.

news.com.au  11 Oct 2013

More lies from the fæces spilling mouths of the government lap dogs.

A source within the industry quoted that the real figure of 'boat arrivals' is one a day, but this information cannot be divulged to the general population.

The quote "if I haven't reported it, it hasn't happened'' signifies 'absolute' authority (and corruption?).