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Australia - Source: ONE News
Two Australian navy vessels have intercepted another suspected asylum seeker boat off Australia's north-west coast.
It is the fourth boat to be intercepted this week.
HMAS Albany and HMAS Maitland stopped the vessel on Thursday, about 23 nautical miles north-west of Browse Island off Western Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says initial indications suggest 67 passengers were on board the vessel.
The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks, and their reasons for travel will be established.
The Australian opposition says the surge in illegal arrivals is because the Rudd government has gone soft on border protection.
More than 1,500 people have arrived on 30 unauthorised vessels so far this year.
However, O'Connor maintains Australia is committed to addressing people smuggling, saying that since September 2008, 48 people had been charged with offences relating to people smuggling.
"Australia is committed to working with our neighbours, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, to address this most serious issue."
Those charged include 44 alleged crew members and four alleged Australian-based organisers.
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