Orange asylum seeker life rafts returned from water to Border Force storage yard in Darwin

Two orange life boats of the type used by Australian Border Force for asylum seeker turn backs have been returned on the back of semi-trailers to a storage yard in Darwin.

The boats were off-loaded by crane at the boatyard in Darwin's light industrial area alongside another 10 boats that were covered with tarpaulins.

A member of the public who spotted the boats on the trucks said they appeared worn and had barnacles on them.

Local fisherman have speculated for some time about the orange rafts since they appeared in the Immigration and Border Protection service yards late last year.

A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Australian Border Force used a "variety of vessels to prepare for and perform its maritime tasks".

The spokesperson would not disclose details about operational activity or the location of its assets.

It was reported in March that the Federal Government had built Indonesian wooden fishing boats under commission to replace the orange life rafts and the vessels have been regularly spotted by locals in Darwin Harbour undergoing maintenance.

The fishing boats built by Dragon Industries Asia for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, are being stored at Spot On Marine in Darwin.

The Federal Government confirmed last year it purchased orange life rafts identical to the ones seen by the ABC, for the purpose of pushing asylum seekers out of Australian waters, but in a seaworthy vessel.

www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-22/orange-asylum-seeker-life-rafts-spotted-in-darwin/6640568


With the abbott mob's secrecy around boat refugees, what protection do we have against the abbott mob mass murdering boat refugees?