Three boats carrying 128 intercepted

17 Aug 2012, 1:27 pm   -   Source: AAP
63 asylum seekers detected on North Keeling Island will be transferred to Christmas Island. (AAP)

63 asylum seekers detected on North Keeling Island will be transferred to Christmas Island. (AAP)

Three boats carrying a total of 128 suspected asylum seekers have been intercepted off the West Australian coast.

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Authorities have intercepted three boats carrying a total of 128 suspected asylum seekers off the West Australian coast.

HMAS Maitland intercepted the first boat, carrying 57 passengers, northwest of Christmas Island on Thursday afternoon.

HMAS Wollongong intercepted the second boat, carrying 40 passengers, northwest of Christmas Island on Thursday evening.

Another 31 passengers were on board the third boat, which was intercepted by HMAS Maitland, also on Thursday evening.

Border Protection Command transferred the passengers to Christmas Island, where they will undergo initial security, health and identity checks.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare warned that people arriving by boat without a visa after August 13 ran the risk of transfer to a regional processing country.

Urgent government legislation reinstating offshore processing of asylum seekers on Nauru and at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea cleared parliament late on Thursday.

Also on Thursday afternoon, navy patrol boat ACV Hervey Bay rounded up 63 asylum seekers who managed to reach the Australian territory of the Cocos Islands. They are also to be transferred to Christmas Island.

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