An Indigenous ranger group that rescued four asylum seekers on a remote island off the Northern Territory coast last week is calling for the federal government to guarantee their safety.
The Garngi Community Rangers say four men they rescued from a remote inlet last week had Chinese ID and feared being deported to China.An Indigenous ranger group that rescued four asylum seekers on a remote island off the Northern Territory coast last week is calling on the federal government to guarantee their safety.in Arnhem Land turned to concern when he helped the men, who had been dropped by an Indonesian boat, without food or water, on Peacock Island.
Mr Chainsaw said he was willing to "adopt" the men and find them a job on Croker Island, and said his community wanted assurances from the federal government the four men would be kept safe."I reckon the government should let them be free out here … better than going back to China and being hurt."Garngi Rangers coordinator Bryan MacDonald said he had tried unsuccessfully to find out where the men had been taken.
Mr MacDonald said the Croker Island community believes Border Force was quicker to respond to their call about the asylum seekers, than it had been to responding to the surge in illegal fishing boat arrivals in their waters."Why are Border Force so quick to respond to these Chinese nationals and so slow to respond, and sometimes don't even respond, to the illegal fishing vessels?" he said.
Federal government figures show in the past five years, more people from China applied for asylum than those from any other country, with 1,500 Chinese applying for asylum in the past financial year alone.Mr Rintoul said only about eight per cent of those asylum seekers had been allowed to stay.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
No adverse findings in probe into elite Northern Territory police triggered by offensive ‘awards’Corruption watchdog rules out further investigation into racism within the force despite evidence of historical racial discrimination
Read more »
Seven Aboriginal women have been killed in the Northern Territory since JuneAnti-violence and women's advocates are calling for an immediate boost to resources, as services are stretched to breaking.
Read more »
Environmentalists, traditional owners flag concerns about Northern Territory's 'dangerous' environmental law changeA leaked paper tabled in parliament by the opposition sets out the government's plan to establish a Territory Coordinator who could 'step in' and take over the assessment process for major projects.
Read more »
Australia, Japan, and US deepen defence ties with joint marine training in Northern Territory7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Four foreign nationals found in remote Northern TerritoryFour foreign nationals have been found on Croker Island in the remote Northern Territory by traditional owners after a boat was spotted near the island on Sunday.
Read more »
Four foreign nationals found by traditional owners on Croker Island in remote Northern TerritoryThe Northern Land Council says the four men landed on Australia's northern coastline on Monday.
Read more »