The Coalition government had hoped that news of the boat would support its claim a Labor government would encourage the people smuggler trade, which would in turn sway some voters at the last moment.
A refugee displays an image of one of his three children who drowned when the boat on which the family fled the war in Syria sank in the Mediterranean.
EPA/Pete Muller
Political leaders have a ready culprit in people smugglers for drownings at sea. The problem is that this ignores responsibility for eliminating all other options for these people to avoid harm.
Hundreds more migrants rescued as they flee violence and conflict in Africa.
EPA/Alessandro Di Meo