Surge in boats adds to pressure on Christmas Island detention centre

A SURGE in boat arrivals has nearly doubled asylum-seekers detained on Christmas Island, and another boatload is expected today.

A SURGE in boat arrivals has nearly doubled the number of asylum-seekers detained on Christmas Island, and authorities expect to intercept another boatload today.

Kuwaitis, Iranians and Iraqis were among 54 boatpeople intercepted off Ashmore Reef on Monday, the 66th boat this year.

As Julia Gillard continued to promote her new cabinet yesterday, the opposition renewed its attack on Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

It is understood authorities are expecting to intercept another boat sometime today, this one off Christmas Island. One source put the number of people on board at about 100.

The arrivals will strain facilities at the Indian Ocean territory, with the number of detainees set to rise to 1246.

That is almost double the 777 asylum-seekers detained on the island three months ago.

So far this year, 66 boats carrying 4282 asylum-seekers have arrived, with six vessels coming since last Friday.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison blamed the spike in arrivals on the government's decision giving asylum-seekers access to the Refugee Review Tribunal, and allowing them to live in the community while claims were processed.

"Chris Bowen follows the same failed pattern of his predecessor Chris Evans, and what is clear is that whether they change the ministers or not, one thing they don't change is the policies," Mr Morrison said yesterday. But a spokesman for Mr Bowen rejected the claims.

"Mr Morrison's hollow words ignore the very clear expert advice he and Tony Abbott have been provided - blocking offshore processing and the Malaysia arrangement will see the boats keep coming," the spokesman said.