Australian authorities have intercepted an asylum seeker boat west of Christmas Island.
Initial indications suggest six people were aboard the vessel when it was picked up by HMAS Albany last Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said.
The passengers were transferred by Border Protection Command to Christmas Island where their reasons for travel will be established, Mr Clare said on Saturday.
The federal government has warned that people arriving by boat without a visa after August 13 run the risk of being sent to processing centres on Nauru or Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
