new boat arrives today

Boatload to be processed on mainland: govt


The latest batch of suspected asylum seekers will be sent to a mainland detention centre due to continuing security concerns at Christmas Island.

Border protection officials stopped a boat east of the Ashmore Islands on Monday morning, with 57 passengers and four crew aboard.

But rather than being sent to Christmas Island - the usual first stop for asylum seekers - they will be processed at a facility on the mainland.

A spokeswoman from Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor's office told AAP it was because of the "ongoing violence at Christmas Island".

But she added that it was not uncommon for groups to be sent to detention centres other than the Christmas Island facility due to bad weather or medical concerns.

A boatload of 145 people that was intercepted on Thursday and due to be processed at Christmas Island has also since been sent to the mainland, the spokeswoman said.