Labor branded ‘foolish’ for sending message to people smugglers

Former immigration minister Philip Ruddock has slammed the Albanese government as “foolish” for sending a message to people smugglers. A group of people, reportedly Chinese nationals, were located in remote Western Australia on the weekend. The group has since been sent to Nauru. The boat's arrival is understood to be the third illegal maritime landing on Australian soil in under six months. “The situation under Labor was going to be different to what it was under the Coalition,” Mr Ruddock told Sky News host Chris Kenny. “All that does is send a message to the people smugglers that they have got an opportunity to be able to sell the opportunities to get on boats at a cost. “It’s obvious that it works.”