HMAS Glenelg intercepted the suspected irregular entry vessel last night. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says initial indications suggest there were 90 passengers and two crew on board the vessel. He said the group will be transferred to Christmas Island to have security, identity and health checks.

The latest interception - the first for 2011 - brought to more than 10,000 the number of people who had arrived irregularly by boat since Labor unwound the border protection policies of the Howard government, the opposition said. "How many more people will need to arrive before the government acknowledges it has no solution?" border protection spokesman Michael Keenan said..