The latest action comes a day after navy personnel boarded an Indonesian registered vessel with about 200 people on board and forced it to turn back to Indonesia.

Until now, boat people have been picked up by the navy and transported to other Pacific nations where their asylum applications are processed.

Australia is in the middle of a general election campaign and Prime Minister John Howard has seen his popularity rise dramatically since he first adopted a hardline policy in late August.

Warning

In the latest incident, an immigration official said the boat had persisted in coming into Australian waters despite warnings.

"They mainly claim to be Afghans, but there is a smattering of other nationalities. The overwhelming majority are males," the official said.

Mr Howard said the boatload of asylum seekers intercepted on Friday included a woman who had given birth just before the boat entered Australian waters.

He said all the boat's occupants were given humanitarian aid.

The crew of the Indonesian boat were warned by the boarding party from the HMAS Warramunga that they faced five-year jail sentences under the new anti-people smuggling legislation.

Border controls

The government has also recently passed border control laws which it says allow asylum seekers to be turned away from certain remote islands, such as Christmas Island.

Human rights groups have criticised the changes, saying Australia's actions could place it in breach of its obligations under international human rights agreements.

Howard's election prospects have been boosted by the refugee issue

The Australian Government has approached several more Pacific nations asking if they will allow refugees to be landed on their territory while their asylum applications for entry to Australia are processed.

Nauru - the world's smallest republic - has accepted about 800 refugees in return for about $10m aid. But the hurriedly constructed detention camp in the island's barren centre is thought to be at full capacity.