Christmas Is almost full as boat arrives

The immigration detention centre on Christmas Island is almost full, sparking debate
on whether asylum seekers who arrive by boat should be sent elsewhere.
A boat carrying 45 asylum seekers ran into trouble 19 nautical miles (35km) from
Christmas Island on Saturday and was rescued by Australian authorities.
It was the eleventh boat to be intercepted in Australian waters this year.
The boat's passengers were taken to Christmas Island on Sunday, lifting the
detention centre's headcount to 1738 people, according to the Immigration
Department.
The centre's capacity is about 1900.
The federal government's policy of mandatory detention of unauthorised arrivals on
Christmas Island is under pressure amid speculation arrivals may have to be housed
elsewhere.
The opposition last week raised the prospect of re-introducing elements of the
former coalition government's Pacific Solution for handling asylum seekers.
They could be housed on Nauru or Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, the opposition
suggested.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Sunday said the solution would be to send a strong
message that "people who get here illegally can't expect to stay here".
"I'm confident that if the message was forceful enough people would heed it," Mr
Abbott told ABC Television.
He said the message would solve the problem of overcrowding on Christmas Island.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Evans said there was still capacity for
more arrivals on Christmas Island, and no decision had been made about using any
other centre.
The spokesman said detainees were constantly being processed and taken to mainland
Australia, creating extra capacity on the island.
The rescue of the 45 asylum seekers stranded at sea showed the dangers of the people
smuggling trade, the federal government said.
Patrol boat HMAS Larrakia intercepted the stricken boat 19 nautical miles
south-southwest of Christmas Island, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
acting after a distress call was received from the boat.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the rescue highlighted the risks and
dangers associated with people smuggling.
"People smuggling is a deplorable act with organisers putting innocent people's
lives at risk," he said in a statement on Sunday.
"The Australian government is pleased that the group is safe, but it is only through
Border Protection Commands and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's vigilance
that these people escaped greater harm."