Australian Border Force (ABF) officials are at a Far North Queensland community where it is alleged a number of foreign nationals arrived ashore at a remote camping spot.
The group allegedly came ashore from a boat at Pennefather Beach, a popular camping spot about 50 kilometres north of Weipa, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Local teacher Dan Tonon was camping at Pennefather Beach with his family when he said the boat landed about 500 metres from their tent.
While he did not see the vessel arrive, he said other nearby campers did and were rattled.
He said the campers hid in their tents when about 10 to 15 non-English speaking people arrived about 3am and lingered on the beach before leaving in a vehicle.
Mr Tonon said ABF officers arrived six hours later.
Campers saw an Australian Border Force helicopter land at Pennefather Beach. (Supplied: Dan Tonon)
“We’ve got word now that they’ve been caught,” Mr Tonon said.
Australian Border Force has not confirmed any details relating to the incident.
“The ABF does not comment on or confirm operational matters,” an ABF spokesperson said.
Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie said Queensland officers were assisting federal authorities.
“What I’ve heard today is that the people have made it ashore and police are helping Border Force to detain those people,”
he said.
“But this is an absolute embarrassment for the Albanese government. The federal government needs to secure our borders.”
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the federal government had to “satisfy the state they have everything at their disposal ready to go to stop these boats coming in illegally in the far north”.
The ABC understands the group allegedly attempted to check into the Albatross Bay Resort.
The hotel declined to comment.
Far North Queensland’s remote coastline regularly sees alleged foreign fishing vessels intercepted for illegally fishing in Australian waters.
