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Aussie government denies playing politics with asylum seekers in close election

Xinhua, June 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Australian government has denied it is using border security as a wedge issue to win re-reflection in two weeks after announcing its Navy had intercepted a boat full of asylum-seekers earlier in June.

While the number of asylum seekers trying to reach Australian shores pales in comparison to those seeking refuge in Europe, the issue is politically sensitive in Australia with both major parties supporting the harsh treatment of refugees in offshore detention facilities.

Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton on Wednesday revealed the Australian navy had intercepted an asylum-seeker boat from Vietnam, with 21 on board, earlier in June, and warned the Australian public not to be complacent about the issue.

"People who think this problem has gone away, please don't believe that," Dutton told reporters in Brisbane, adding the 65 million refugees and asylum seekers worldwide "could come to a country like ours tomorrow."

Consistent with Australia's current policy, the asylum seekers were processed at sea and the boat was turned back to Vietnam.

"They claimed that they were wanting protection, it was found that they were not owed protection and they were returned to Vietnam," Dutton said.

It was the Australian government's 28th "boat turnback" since it came to power in 2013.

Dutton denied he was playing politics to win the July 2 election, saying he had to wait until people were returned and enquiries were made into the people smuggling operations.

At the same time however, he criticized the opposition Labor party for being divided on the issue, warning people smuggling operations would again ramp up should they be elected.

"People smugglers in Indonesia are watching very closely and they believe if there's a change of government on July 2, the people smugglers will be back in business and people will be back on boats coming to our country," Dutton said.

Recent polls show the incumbent Liberal/National party coalition and the opposition Labor party in a dead heat, suggesting Australia is headed for another hung parliament. Both camps' immigration policies are nearly identical. Endit