Over 900 days since last illegal boat arrived in Australia

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday praised his government's border security policies, saying it has been more than 900 days since the last boat smuggling illegal people arrived in Australia.

Speaking at a joint Liberal and National party meeting ahead of Parliament's resumption, the premier said the "remarkable" achievement was a testament to Australia's strong border policies, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We stand for security, for borders with integrity. Look around the world at the grief and the turmoil that you've seen through lax border protection," Turnbull said.

"We have now gone over 900 days without a successful people smuggling venture coming to Australia. That is a remarkable achievement and one on which we can never be complacent."

He said it was important that Australians were aware that the government was on top of unlawful immigration, and would continue to prevent people smugglers from bringing boatloads of illegal asylum seekers.

Turnbull's remarks come at a sensitive time for immigration after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary travel ban for citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the US.

Last week, Trump had a telephone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which ended before the allotted time following a heated conversation on a refugee deal between Australia and the US.

The agreement, signed by former President Barack Obama, establishes the relocation in the US of some 1,250 refugees detained in Australian detention facilities in the Pacific, which was described by Trump as a "dumb deal".

--IANS

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