Australia has intercepted and turned back three boats of refugees and asylum seekers so far this year under the Federal Government's hardline policy.  One of them was carrying women and children from Sri Lanka, according to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

"I can advise that there were 12 people on that vessel," Mr. Dutton told reporters.  "And the vessel had departed from Sri Lanka and we were able to successfully return those 12 people, which included men, women and children, back safely to Sri Lanka on May 6.  Now, that brings to three the number of vessels that have sought to arrive and have been turned back, people returned back to their country of origin, in this calendar year."

The wooden fishing vessel came with 500 meters of the Cocos Islands before being intercepted.  The people on board were brought ashore and eventually flown back to Sri Lanka.  Dutton didn't give any details about the other two boats.

Dutton slammed Labor for being "divided about border protection", after several members criticized the turn backs.  But Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said that members should be able to express their views on the federal government's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.  And he criticized Dutton's claim that the government doesn't owe Labor any briefings on the boats even if the government is in caretaker mode.

"If there were any matters which related to national security or any policy issue, then the government has an obligation to brief the respective shadow minister," said Mr. Albanese.  "But this is a government that has shown contempt for normal processes," he added.

- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/05/09/asylum-seekers-have-not-been-successful.html#sthash.TXNqA2ik.dpuf