Navy boards asylum seeker boat

A navy patrol boat has gone to the aid of a vessel carrying 29 suspected asylum
seekers and a crew of two about 150 nautical miles southwest of the Ashmore Islands.

Crew from HMAS Childers boarded the vessel at 9pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said those on board the vessel were safe and
had indicated they wished to come to Australia.
The vessel was initially sighted by an RAAF Orion surveillance aircraft.
It is the 48th asylum seeker vessel to arrive in Australian waters this year.
The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security,
identity and health checks.