“Stop the boats.” Is Australia seeing a sudden uptick in asylum seekers, fishermen or fear-mongering?

Liberal Senator James Patterson (above) was extensively quoted in Wednesday’s Telegraph article, as was Barnaby Joyce (right) on 2GB. Images: Channel 9, News Corp.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and the Coalition are railing about a “new wave of boat people”. Andrew Gardiner checks out the claims, and Australia’s history of political fear-mongering.

This post was originally published on Michael West.