The Wire

Today 16 Indonesians – including 9 children and a baby – are being taken to Christmas Island, after they were picked up by the Australian Navy yesterday from a sinking fishing vessel off the north coast of WA. The group consists of 3 fishing families, who claim they are seeking economic asylum, because they say Australia’s crackdown on illegal fishing has ruined their livelihood. Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said today the family are likely to remain on Christmas Island for at least 2 weeks. But the Migration Act – which was amended 3 years ago – states children should only be taken to the Island as the last resort.