A refugee advocacy group has supported comments from the Prime Minister, urging asylum seekers from the Indonesian province of Papua not to seek asylum in Australia.
John Howard made the comments after a family of six Papuans were located in Papua New Guinea after an unsuccessful attempt to reach Australia.
Elizabeth Biok, from the Refugee Council of Australia, says asylum seekers are putting their safety in jeopardy by attempting to flee to Australia by boat.
Biok says there is also no guarantee that asylum seekers will receive protection in Australia.
"Australians should not be encouraging West Papuans to make that treachorous journey for a number of reasons.
It's very dangerous and they may not land on Australia's territory and then it becomes the whole question of the Pacific Solution, and where they'll be sent for processing."
Mr Howard says the fact the latests group didn't land in Australia is good for the relationship with Indonesia.
The relationship has been strained by a recent decision to award temporary protection visas to 42 Papuan asylum seekers.