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April 9th, 2013 
The boat carrying Sri Lankan asylum seekers pulled into Geraldton harbour this afternoon. Picture: Twitter
Source: Supplied
AN asylum boat with around 72 people on board has sailed into Geraldton, 400 kilometres north of Perth.
It is believed to be the first boat to reach the mainland so close to Perth.
Barely 430km north of Perth, the coastal centre is more than 2000km south of Christmas Island where asylum seekers coming to Australia are usually intercepted.
The Sri Lankan passengers pulled into the harbour on their overcrowded vessel around midday (WST), stunning witnesses.
Authorities are unsure how the vessel reached so far south and believe the crew may have set the wrong course.
Asylum seekers on the vessel have held up a sign saying, “We want to go to New Zealand. Please help us.”
The boat is believed to have been at sea for 44 days.
It is believed the Sri Lankans want to be sent to New Zealand because the government has voluntarily and involuntarily returned about 1000 Sri Lankans since August last year.
The vessel was met by a pilot boat in Geraldton harbour with WA Police now on the scene.
“Customs and Border Protection have advised a suspected irregular entry vessel arrived within the harbour limits of Geraldton this afternoon,” a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said.
“Initial indications suggest there are 66 people on board.
“Customs and Border Protection officers and Western Australian Police are responding to the arrival.”
Geraldton Port Authority chief executive officer Peter Klein said a response team had set up a processing post for the asylum seekers.
“Police and Customs have been notified and are on the scene,” he said.
WA Police Inspector Dominic Wood said the boat had arrived in Geraldton under its own steam.
Inspector Wood said a Customs vessel had towed the boat into harbour where it is now moored.
“We are trying to determine where the refugees are from,” he said.
“At this time the asylum seekers are still on their vessel and are complying with police and Customs.”
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