Six ‘Chinese’ nationals discovered in WA’s remote Kimberley after arriving by boat

A group of six foreign nationals has been detained by border authorities in remote north-west Australia after arriving by boat earlier this week.

WA Police has confirmed an off-duty officer located two men on Monday around 12 kilometres north of the Indigenous community of Kalumburu, the northernmost settlement in the State.

“It was established the men had arrived in Australia via an unknown vessel, as part of a group,” a police spokesperson told The West Australian.

“Police conducted a search for the remaining group members and located four additional men in the Kalumburu area on Tuesday, 2 December 2025.”

The men, believed to be Chinese nationals, were then taken to the Kalumburu Multi-Functional Police Facility for medical assessment, but the Australian Border Force has declined to comment on “operational matters”.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was not aware of the situation when asked by reporters on Thursday.

“We will go through all of the processes which we always do in respect of any incident of this kind.”

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Jonathon Duniam criticised the government’s handling of border protection, accusing the Minister of not being focussed on dealing with boat arrivals.

“Perhaps if Tony Burke spent less time covering up secret meetings about bringing former members of ISIS into Australia and more time focused on border security, we wouldn’t be relying on off duty police officers to pick up illegal arrivals.”