More boat people arrive

One of the biggest asylum seeker boats to arrive in Australian waters this year has been intercepted by authorities off WA.

The vessel was spotted yesterday afternoon by an aerial patrol, about 90 nautical miles north of Christmas Island.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said a boat carrying 93 passengers and two crew was picked up by the Navy patrol boat HMAS Pirie north-west of Christmas Island a short time ago.

The vessel had been spotted earlier by a RAAF patrol aircraft.

Today's interception is expected to put growing pressure on the island's accommodation. While the numbers in detention had been dropping in recent months, as of Friday, 1013 people were being held on Christmas Island, including 26 crew members.

In September, a boat carrying 109 asylum seekers and four crew was intercepted. It was only upon arrival at Christmas Island that authorities realised there were nearly double the number of asylum seekers on board as originally thought after the discovery of a hidden deck under the main deck.

The latest vessel is the 12th to be picked up since the High Court ruled the Federal Government’s Malaysian Solution unlawful.

Border Protection Command will now make arrangements for the passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island, where they will undergo initial security, health and identity checks and their reasons for travel will be established.