Govt won't confirm asylum status

20th October 2009

THE Federal Government won't confirm reports Indonesia has agreed to take 78 suspected asylum seekers now onboard an Australian customs vessel.

The issue is unlikely to be resolved before Prime Minister Kevin Rudd meets Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as the leaders of Malaysia and Singapore, in Jakarta later on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says five children and five women are among those aboard the Australian navy's ACV Oceanic Viking, after it responded to a distress call from a boat in the Indonesian search and rescue zone on Sunday.

"We've assessed, properly, the medical situation and everyone seems to be fine," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

Australian and Indonesian authorities are in discussions about "the way in which to resolve this matter".

When asked to confirm media reports Indonesia had agreed to take the group, Mr O'Connor said: "Until there is a confirmation as to the outcome of the process, I'm not in a position to do so."