15 Feb 2014

No asylum arrivals in 57 days

6:47 am on 15 February 2014

The Department of Immigration in Australia says no asylum seeker boats made it to shore this week.

In a weekly report on Operation Sovereign Borders, the department said there now had been no onshore arrivals for 57 days.

Over the week, 60 people were transferred to the offshore processing centre in Nauru; 19 people elected to go home.

Two detainees were forcibly removed.

AAP reports an Iraqi man was arrested in Queensland last Friday and charged with people smuggling.

A boat carrying asylum seekers off the north coast of Australia in June 2012. The vessel later capsized.

A boat carrying asylum seekers off the north coast of Australia in June 2012. The vessel later capsized. Photo: AFP / MV Bison / Australian Maritime Safety Authority