LABOR has denied it was warned by the Immigration Department that closing the detention centre on Nauru would lead to an increase in people smuggling. In a confidential briefing on February 25, 2008 Immigration Department officials warned the then Immigration Minister Chris Evans that: “while a range of risk mitigation strategies have prevented significant boat arrivals in recent years, current intelligence on issues including the closure on Nauru suggest the possibility of increased people smuggling efforts.” Read more.