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More refugees sailing for Australia
MELBOURNE, Australian officials are calling up reserve forces warning naval personnel to expect a surge of asylum-seeking refugees and, authorities said.
The government has received intelligence reports indicating as many as 12 boats, carrying perhaps 800 people, were headed for an area around Christmas Island and Ashmore Reef, The Melbourne Herald Sun reported Friday.
Opposition leaders in Australia are campaigning on a promise of tighter security screening at ports and airports and favor turning refugee boats away, the newspaper said.
Smugglers have increasingly been making phony distress calls just outside Australian waters, trying to turn the interceptions into rescue missions, which exempt the boats and passengers from being taken into custody.
"We have to save them, not detain them," one navy office told the newspaper. "And there are lots and lots we have 'saved' in detention right now."
At least 81 boats have arrived in Australia this year, carrying more than 3,800 passenger, the newspaper said.
MELBOURNE, Australian officials are calling up reserve forces warning naval personnel to expect a surge of asylum-seeking refugees and, authorities said.
The government has received intelligence reports indicating as many as 12 boats, carrying perhaps 800 people, were headed for an area around Christmas Island and Ashmore Reef, The Melbourne Herald Sun reported Friday.
Opposition leaders in Australia are campaigning on a promise of tighter security screening at ports and airports and favor turning refugee boats away, the newspaper said.
Smugglers have increasingly been making phony distress calls just outside Australian waters, trying to turn the interceptions into rescue missions, which exempt the boats and passengers from being taken into custody.
"We have to save them, not detain them," one navy office told the newspaper. "And there are lots and lots we have 'saved' in detention right now."
At least 81 boats have arrived in Australia this year, carrying more than 3,800 passenger, the newspaper said.
