Operation Sovereign Borders Rear Admiral Brett Sonter shares details on border protection progress
Australia’s battle against people smugglers now has a new political face in Tony Burke taking over the Home Affairs and Immigration portfolios from Clare O’Neil and Andrew Giles.
But operationally there has been a new face in charge since January when Rear Admiral Brett Sonter took command of Operation Sovereign Borders.
It was not long into his command, in February, when more than 30 men made it to Australian shores undetected on an illegal boat from Asia.
Footage of the men turning up in the middle of the remote coastal Aboriginal community of Beagle Bay in WA’s north thrust border security firmly back into the political frame ahead of the next election.
Real Admiral Sonter returned to Beagle Bay to give a rare interview to The West on where things stand now as far as the usually secretive operation is concerned.
“We are seeing more (arrivals), but we are seeing the successful mission that is OSB, where, irrespective of where they’re coming, we are taking them safely to an option that is not allowing that permanent Australian settlement,“ he said.
“We have seen a change where we saw bigger larger ventures, more people, slower boats, where we are seeing that change in tactics.”
“We are also seeing a conflation of people that may be fishers, and boats that look like traditional fishers, being used for other means.”
Rear Admiral Sonter also firmly dismissed rumours rife in the remote region that such arrivals had become common but were being kept secret.
“I would say to you, as the head of this, they would be wrong,” he said.
Wrong, but not totally unfounded, with the experienced Navy man explaining there had been a recent spike in October of illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters.
Camera IconRear Admiral Sonter also firmly dismissed rumours rife in the remote region that such arrivals had become common but were being kept secret. Credit: Matt Anderson/7NEWS
Camera IconWrong, but not totally unfounded, with the experienced Navy man explaining there had been a recent spike in October of illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters. Credit: Matt Anderson/7NEWS
With sea cucumber, or trepang, bringing Indonesian fishing crews into shallow waters, and often brazenly onto shore to set up camp.
But a concerted Australian effort to address illegal fishing has proven effective.
Last year saw 912 sightings of illegal fishing vessels, while January to May of 2024 has recorded 69.
Intercepted illegal fishers are dealt with on a case-by-case fishing, from education, to the seizure of their fish and equipment, to criminal charges, or the potential controlled burning of their boats.
See the full report and how Border Force patrols the north west coast in 7NEWS at 6:00pm.
#Operation #Sovereign #Borders #Rear #Admiral #Brett #Sonter #shares #details #border #protection #progress