Three more asylum seeker boats arrive

More than 100 people are being held by border authorities after three suspected
asylum seeker boats were intercepted near Ashmore Island over two days.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the latest arrivals add further
pressure to the federal government's position on the detention of asylum seekers.
The three boatloads are being transferred to Christmas Island where they will
undergo security, identity and health checks and their reasons for travel will be
established, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said.
The first vessel, carrying 29 passengers and four crew, was discovered by HMAS Pirie
south of Ashmore Island on Thursday night.
HMAS Armidale boarded a vessel southeast of Ashmore Island on Friday afternoon,
detaining 39 passengers and two crew.
ACV Triton, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a
boat carrying 37 passengers and three crew north of Ashmore Island on Friday night.
Responding to their discovery, Mr Morrison blamed failed Labor policies.
"Riots, brawling, gruesome protests and self-harm have all returned to our detention
network, after three years of Labor's failed policies," he said.
"Three years ago you could count the number of people being detained who had arrived
illegally by boat on less than one hand, there were just four.
"That was the legacy of the coalition's policies that stopped the boats."