Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has assailed federal authorities for lack of strong resolve in handling serious border protection affairs in light of reports that the crew of a cargo ship that rescued asylum seekers off the Indonesian waters were intimidated by some of the refugees.

But instead of sending security forces to aid the crew of the hulking MV Parsifal vehicle carrier, Mr Abbott scored Prime Minister Julia Gillard for apparently shrugging off the incident.

He specifically criticised Canberra for not immediately launching a police probe on the matter, which should allow authorities to question the asylum seekers instead of processing them for asylum application.

Home Minister Jason Clare has confirmed reports that 67 boat people were plucked out near Java by MV Parsifal on Monday.

The cargo ship was en route to Singapore at the time of the rescue so the ship captain advised the refugees that they would be dropped off to the island-nation, which reportedly angered some of the asylum seekers.

The Parsifal ship captain has reported witnessing aggressive signals from the refuges, which forced him to turn the ship around and eventually delivered the asylum seekers to Christmas Island on Tuesday.

Mr Clare noted that the captain's actions were motivated by intents to safeguard the safety of his crew.

What had transpired, according to Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, definitely merits a criminal investigation.

Upon arrival on Australian territory, the asylum seekers should have been put under investigation "for potential crimes of piracy that carries a life sentence under our Crimes Act."

Mr Morrison told ABC that federal authorities must ensure "that asylum seekers were not dictating terms and issuing threats to captains or the Australian Navy or anyone else when it comes to protecting the security of our borders."

A show of reasonable force on the part of the government should not be discounted, the Liberal frontbencher added.

Mr Abbott stressed that resolve must be displayed by Ms Gillard in enforcing Australian intents, adding that in the case of the immigration policy show of force is necessary to ensure that rogue elements within the asylum seekers can be weeded out by authorities.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Mr Abbott reminded the Labor government that if it wishes to produce the same results achieved by the Liberal Howard government on the matter "you've got to have John Howard's resolve and my fear with this government is that its heart is just not in it."

In reaction to the incident, Ms Gillard has indicated that her government is prepared to respond appropriately on situations that were presented to it, including the alleged piracy behaviour displayed by the asylum seekers rescued this week.

"If anyone, in any circumstance, anywhere, engages in unlawful conduct then of course that unlawful conduct should be acted upon," the prime minister was reported by ABC as saying on Thursday.

Meanwhile, even as the Senate processes the legislation that contains the compromise deal both supported by the government and the Coalition, defence and immigration officials took flights that will bring them to Nauru and Manus Island to immediately set up the offshore processing facilities agreed upon in the Parliament.

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