Asylum boat intercepted near Broome

15 Apr 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australian authorities have intercepted a suspected asylum seeker boat near Broome, a week after another boat managed to reach Western Australia's Geraldton port.

HMAS Ararat, with the help of the WA police vessel Delphinus, found the boat with 72 people on board on Sunday.

Some have been taken to Broome for medical treatment, Customs and Border Protection said on Monday.

The remainder will be transferred to Christmas Island for health and security checks.
Last week, a boat with 66 Sri Lankan asylum seekers managed to reach WA's Geraldton port after spending weeks travelling more than 5000km.

Another boat arrived near Darwin last week, with 75 people on board.

Under existing legislation, asylum seekers who reach the mainland can avoid being sent to processing centres on Nauru or Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

Labor wants to change this and the legislation is currently before the Senate.

If it succeeds, mainland Australia will join the Ashmore Islands, Cartier Island, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in being designated out of the migration zone.

Asylum seekers who land outside the zone cannot make visa applications and must be processed offshore. ( WA Today)

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Asylum boat intercepted near Broome

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