A FIFTH boatload of people believed to be seeking asylum in Australia has been intercepted off the north-west of Australia.
The boat, carrying 35 passengers and five crew members, was spotted near Ashmore Island late on Tuesday, the Minister for Immigration, Chris Evans, said.
The nationality and intention of the people is unknown but they are being transferred to Christmas Island where they will be detained until more about their situation is known.
The Government defended its border-protection policy as it made the announcement about the latest arrivals after claims by the Opposition it was going soft on people smugglers.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, said surveillance was continuing and would not be affected by the Australian navy's recent announcement it would bring home some service personnel for Christmas as part of a bid to become more family friendly.
Four boats carrying 48 people have already reached Australian waters this year.
The Federal Government is concerned people smugglers are changing tactics and recruiting people in their native countries instead of waiting for them to first arrive in a temporary location such as Indonesia.
The United Nations Refugee Agency said the 85 recent arrivals here needed to be kept in perspective. UNHCR regional representative Richard Towle said: "More than 500 times that number crossed the Gulf of Aden into Yemen so far this year with 43,500 people making the perilous journey in over 850 smuggling boats in 2008." A further 740 are either missing or dead.
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