Asylum seekers rescued off Cocos Islands
The arrival of six boats in the past two weeks has sparked a political row in Canberra. (Supplied)
The Federal Government has detected another boatload of asylum seekers off the north-west coast of Australia.
The Government says a plane spotted the "distressed" boat yesterday afternoon, north of Cocos-Keeling Islands.
Water and stores were dropped to the vessel and a commercial ship remained nearby to offer assistance throughout the night.
An Australian customs ship arrived at 11:45am AEST on Sunday and boarded the vessel.
The 54 people on board are being transferred to the detention centre on Christmas Island for health and security checks.
The Government says the boat had stopped moving and had run out of food and water supplies.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said some passengers were dehydrated or seasick but all had been safely rescued.
Mr O'Connor said the rescue highlighted the dangers of people smuggling.
"These types of voyages are extremely dangerous and drownings at sea are not uncommon," he said.
"The majority of vessels arriving in Australia have been arranged by criminal syndicates attracted by large profits ... they operate with enormous risks and with little regard for the safety of their passengers."
Approximately 1,350 people have arrived on 25 unauthorised boats so far this year.
Six boats have arrived in the past fortnight.
Political row
The arrivals have sparked a political row in Canberra, where the Opposition has accused the Government of going soft on border protection.
The Rudd Government softened some aspects of the Howard Government's border protection policy, saying it was a more humane approach.
The Government says it is not border rules driving asylum seekers, but troubles in their home countries.
- ABC/AAP