Australian Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said Monday a Customs vessel had intercepted another asylum seeker boat about seven nautical miles north east of Ashmore Islands.
O'Connor said there appeared to be 10 passengers and one crewman aboard the vessel.
He said the group would be transferred to Christmas Island to undergo security, identity and health checks and to establish their reasons for
travel. It is the 42nd boat to arrive this year.
"The Australian government remains vigilant and committed to protecting Australia's borders and today's successful interception by Border Protection Command continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of the pro-active response program in place," he said in a statement.
O'Connor said situations around the world meant that large numbers of displaced persons were looking for resettlement and could fall prey to
people smugglers.
He said the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report indicated there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including
15.2 million refugees.
"People smuggling is not just an issue for Australia, it is a global and regional problem," he said.
"The commitment of our neighbors, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, is critical to addressing this most serious issue."