Melbourne: The number of asylum-seekers arriving by boat in Australian waters in 2012 has hit a record high, according to government figures.
Department of Immigration figures show 6,765 people have arrived by boat in this year, breaking the last record set in 2010, when 6,555 arrived.
The Federal Opposition's Michael Keenan said the figures show the Commonwealth's asylum seeker policies are not deterring people smugglers.
"We're actually having almost on average a boat arrive every single day," he said.
"This means that 2012 is now the worst year on record for people arriving illegally in Australia, the illegal arrivals that have happened today this year have eclipsed the illegal arrivals in any previous year, and of course we're only in July."
PTI
First Published: Monday, July 30, 2012, 13:02