WA‘s north coast exposed as four more people discovered in ocean off Broome

Australia’s north-west coast has again been exposed, with reports of four Vietnamese people detected off the coast of Broome.

Less than a day after 33 people were found on Christmas Island after arriving by boat, the four “unauthorised maritime arrivals” from Vietnam were intercepted in the ocean near Broome on Friday morning, The Guardian reported.

It came after the group of 33 people were found on Christmas Island on Thursday morning after their boat was reportedly damaged in bad weather.

The arrival is the third in a week off of Australia’s coast, after five Rwandan men were found on Saibai Island in the Torres Strait in Australia’s north-east.

Asked about the Christmas Island arrivals on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended “record funding” for the Australian Border Force.

“We have record funding for Border Force in place now, which is why we’ve been able to ensure that anyone who arrives in such a fashion is not settled in Australia,” he said.

“Australian Border Force have dealt with all of these issues expeditiously in a way that is consistent with Australia’s public policy of strong border protection.”

A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said: “As is long-standing practice, we do not confirm or comment on operational matters.”