55th asylum seeker boat intercepted

Authorities have intercepted another asylum seeker boat, taking the tally for the
year to 55.
The boat was intercepted just after 8pm on Tuesday by HMAS Launceston about 30
nautical miles northeast of the Ashmore Islands.
Initial indications suggest there are 51 passengers and four crew on board the
vessel. They will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo
security, identity and health checks.
The latest arrival comes as the government faces increasing pressure to do more to
solve the asylum seeker problem with detention facilities on Christmas Island
already stretched to their limits.
As of Tuesday, there were 1,487 detainees on the island, including 82 in tents which
were erected as temporary accommodation to cope with the growing asylum seeker
population.