Navy intercepts `asylum seeker` boat

A boat carrying 58 suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted by the Australian
navy just north of Ashmore Islands.
It is the fourth boat intercepted this week, bringing to 62 the number of vessels
arriving in Australian waters during 2009.
The boat was intercepted by HMAS Broome at 10.53pm (AEDT) on Thursday about 40km
north of Ashmore Islands.
Initial indications suggest there were 58 passengers and four crew on board the
vessel, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said.
One of the male passengers is suffering from a serious medical condition.
He was treated on board by a navy medical officer, who assessed his condition as
being in need of immediate medical attention.
The man is being transferred to Darwin Hospital.
Others on the boat will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo
security, identity and health checks, and where authorities will establish their
reasons for travel.
The federal opposition says the transfer of a seriously-ill man from the boat is of
great concern.
"This highlights why it is so important to stop the people smugglers, because people
are putting their lives at risk," immigration spokesman Scott Morrison told AAP on
Friday.
"That is not on, for us - that is why we are so hostile to this business."
The opposition was not opposed to taking in refugees and strongly supported
Australia's commitment to accept 13,500 people on humanitarian grounds.
But people smugglers were undermining the integrity of how Australia was managing
its refugee intake, Mr Morrison said.
"This is not a debate about whether we should accept refugees or not," he said.