Boat doesn't mark 'wave of asylum seekers'
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The 14 people on the boat are being taken to Christmas Island for processing. (ABC TV)
The Christmas Island Shire president says he does not believe the arrival of a group of people off Western Australia's coast marks the start of a wave of asylum seekers.
The Royal Australian Navy has intercepted a boat carrying 14 people near Ashmore Islands, 320 kilometres off Australia's north west coast.
They are being taken to Christmas Island for processing, and it is unclear at this stage if they are asylum seekers.
Christmas Island Shire president Gordon Thomson says he does not expect the number of boats travelling to Australia to increase.
"There have been asylum claims made by people coming on boats," he said.
"That hasn't stopped completely and this is just another one in that sequence. I would have thought it's not an indicator of a new flood of refugees coming to Australia. I can't see that."
