29 asylum seekers including children from Sri Lanka have been flown home today after being intercepted near Exmouth.
2 children and 27 adults allegedly seeking asylum were tracked from the Cocos Islands towards the mainland coast.
They were intercepted at Learmonth Beach near Exmouth, where Australian Border Security retrieved them from the vessel they deemed to be not-seaworthy.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirmed they were flown home to Sri Lanka and said he believes they were headed for New Zealand
Mr Dutton has criticised Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for publicising opportunities for people to go to New Zealand. He said he believes this gives boat people false hope that they can enter Australia through a back door system if they can get to New Zealand.
"He's been talking about the opportunity for people to go to New Zealand. In their mind it's an opportunity to back-door Australia through New Zealand. And that's why it's risky when it comes to border protection police when you think about Mr Shorten," Mr Dutton said.
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