Australian immigration officials say a boatload of 200 asylum seekers is moored off Christmas Island.
They are defying an order from the Australian navy to turn back to Indonesia.
The boat was intercepted by HMAS Aruntaand those on board were warned of the penalties of bringing illegal immigrants into Australian waters.
"Most of the people are believed to be claiming to come from Afghanistan," , a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said. "Despite the warning, the boat persisted in coming into Australian waters and is now moored off Christmas Island."
The latest arrivals will not be allowed to land, the spokeswoman said.
The new arrivals come just a day after the government claimed Prime Minister John Howard's new hardline stance against asylum seekers was working. It said a shipload of refugees agreed to turn back to Indonesia after being boarded by navy personnel off northern Australia.
"For the first time it represents ... a successful return of a vessel," Mr Howard said.
In August, Prime Minister Howard refused entry to 433 mostly Afghan asylum seekers rescued from a sinking Indonesian ferry by a Norwegian cargo ship.
Stemming the flow of asylum seekers has become a central issue in the current election campaign in which Mr Howard's conservative government is seeking a third term.
PA
