Border security in the Torres Strait has come under fire after a group of men trying to enter Australia on a dinghy were detained.
It is believed five men are in custody on Saibai Island, off the far north Queensland coast, after being intercepted by authorities in the Torres Strait.
The men are reportedly from West Africa but it is unclear whether they have claimed asylum in Australia.
Torres Strait Island Mayor Phillemon Mosby says more federal government funding is needed to police people smuggling in his region.
Mosby says the federal government has not told him about the detainees in his own backyard and he only found out when alerted by a local councillor.
“She was informed by a family member who happened to drive down the road on Monday … and found five guys casually sitting like normal locals.
“I was disappointed I wasn’t informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Office on Thursday Island.”
The five men reportedly travelled through Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, allegedly using fake documents before attempting to enter far north Queensland.
Asked about the group’s arrival, the Australian Border Force said it had “well-established processes to manage irregular movements of people in the Torres Strait”.
Source Agencies
