Sinking boat: Rescued passengers on way to Christmas Is
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Christmas Island ... not yet known if the group is seeking refugee status. (ABC TV)
The Navy is taking 12 people rescued from a sinking boat off Western Australia's coast to Christmas Island.
The boat was spotted by a Coast Watch plane about 80 nautical miles south-east of Ashmore Reef yesterday and it is not yet known if the group is seeking refugee status.
The Navy's HMAS Ararat found the boat was sinking fast because of a hole in the hull and its engine was damaged beyond repair.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans says there is constant pressure on people smugglers in the region.
"Those pressures have not abated in the last five or six years as conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have seen thousands of displaced people seeking refuge elsewhere around the world," he said.
"Prior to this boat, there have been two boat arrivals carrying 26 passengers in Australian waters this year. Last year we had five boats with 148 passengers and the year before we had six boats with 60 passengers."
But the Opposition's immigration spokesman, Sharman Stone, says more needs to be done.
"I'm afraid Minister Evans has got to speak up loud and clear," she said.
"Make it quite plain that even though the Navy is going on holidays for a couple of months at Christmas, it will be business as usual and people smuggling - as a highly dangerous and inhuman activity - is something this Government will not tolerate."
"We have to be very concerned that lives might be lost and I'm afraid Senator Evans has just got to do better in making it loud and clear that this Government is still serious about border protection and not having people smugglers back in control."
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