ANOTHER boat carrying 35 suspected asylum seekers has made it to Australian waters, but the occupants were detained and taken to Christmas Island.
The boat, carrying 35 passengers and five crew, was intercepted shortly after it was spotted by a surveillance plane near Ashmore Island, north-west of Western Australia, late on Tuesday.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the group would be taken to Christmas Island for processing.
The nationalities and intentions of the group were not known, he said.
Senator Evans said people smugglers were trying to avoid interception by changing their tactics and varying the size of their boats.
The boat is the fifth to make it to Australian waters in recent months.
Senator Evans said people smuggling was a global problem with conflicts forcing people to flee and seek safety in western countries like Australia.
``Ongoing conflicts in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have seen thousands of displaced people seeking refuge around the world, and the people smugglers are exploiting these people at their most vulnerable times,'' Senator Evans said.
``There is also increasing evidence that people smugglers are recruiting customers in source countries.''
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