The Federal Government has confirmed there are reports that another boat of six people from the Indonesian province of Papua has landed on an Australian island. Two months ago 43 separatists from Papua landed in Australia and the decision to grant all but one of them protection visas has sparked a diplomatic crisis with Indonesia.A spokesman for Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has confirmed there have been reports of another boatload arriving but says it is an operational matter and there will be no further comment. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald newspapers reported that it is a family of six, with four children, including a two-month-old baby.
The Australian Customs Service is trying to confirm reports that a family of six landed on Bamboo Island in the Torres Strait on Sunday after a voyage from the Papuan coastal town of Merauke. Customs says it can not confirm the reports and it is liaising with other authorities in the area. A Customs spokesman says it is a huge area with hundreds of islands and he is not aware of an island called Bamboo.
Last night Queensland police investigated a tip off that the family had landed at Bamaga on the tip of Cape York Peninsula and sought refuge with a local pastor. Door knocks were conducted but no one was located.
| "There's no one here, and the people who aren't here didn't come from Papua!" "Hmmm, hokay, thanks." |
"Last time we went through the most expensive and awkward option of flying people to Christmas Island."
Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, has emphasised that Australia needs good relations with Indonesia. While not commenting on reports of the latest arrivals, Mr Costello described Indonesia as a valuable friend to Australia. "Let's make this point, we have very common interests, we rely on Indonesia to help us with boat people, we rely on Indonesia to help us with the terrorist threat, we rely on Indonesia to help us with illegal fishing, we need Indonesia," he said.
| Dang, he said that without his lips falling off. Must be a politican. |