The Australian government intercepted on Tuesday afternoon two more asylum boats near the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. One boat has 49 passengers and the other 54, disclosed Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare.

With the two new vessels, the number of asylum boats that has been taken in by Australian has reached 17 after the Gillard government shunned onshore processing and opted for the establishment of new offshore processing facilities on Manus Island and Nauru.

The new arrivals will be temporarily transferred at Christmas Island where they will go through initial security, health and identity checks. They will also be asked about the reasons for their travel, the minister said.

However, with the frequent arrival of asylum vessels carrying Asian and African economic refugees, concerns have been raised that the facilities may no longer be sufficient to take in more asylum seekers.

In the past two days alone, four boats have arrived bringing to over 1,000 the number of illegal migrants who have arrived via Australian waters since the federal government brought back offshore processing.

When the temporary asylum centre in Nauru opens by the end of September, it is expected to be filled to capacity with 500 economic refugees. However, when it is fully operational, it could take in 1,500 people, while the Manus Island could house only 600 people.

Mr Clare warned on Wednesday that asylum seekers who arrive by boat without a visa after Aug 13, 2012 are at the risk of being transferred to a regional processing nation.