The Indonesian Ambassador to Australia says Australia's stance against Afghani and Sri Lankan asylum seekers is likely to put more pressure on Indonesia.
The Federal Government is suspending the processing of all new applications for protection by people from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
The Ambassador, Primo Alui Joelianto, says Indonesia is likely feel the impact.
It means they have to transit in one place and unfortunately the place is Indonesia so to some extent of course we will feel the difficulty in having them in our territory," he said.
The Federal Opposition says the arrival of three asylum seeker boats shows that suspending refugee applications for Sri Lankans and Afghanis has not worked.
A boat carrying 27 people was intercepted off the Kimberley Coast this morning.
It is the third to be caught since the Government's announcement on Friday that some asylum applications will not be processed for up to six months.
The Coalition's spokesman, Michael Keenan, says it shows the Government's approach is not working.
"I think the people smugglers actions speak much louder than Kevin Rudd's words," he said.
"This third arrival since the Government's announcement on Friday also brings up another grim milestone for the Government which is over 5,000 illegal arrivals since they weakened Australia's border protection laws in August of 2008.
"It's actually the Australian Government that controls the flow of immigration into Australia," he said.
"At the moment that's not the case. And we do think the Government should take action but I don't think this action will necessarily make much difference.
"It's more about pretending to be tough." But the Prime Minister has defended the Government's approach.
"Our policy is very clear cut - our obligations are to deal with genuine asylum seekers and those who are not genuine asylum seekers to send them back to their countries of origin. That is the Governmnent's consistent position," Mr Rudd said.
Smith backs suspensions
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith has defended returning asylum seekers to Afghanistan even though the Government's advice is that it is unsafe for Australians to go there.
The Government argues it is becoming safer in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and more likely applicants will be sent back because their asylum claims will be refused. But it advises Australians not to travel to Afghanistan.
Mr Smith has told Channel Nine the refugee decision is made on a different basis.
"It's a qualititatively different question about the straightforward security of a country," he said.
"It is not applicable or appropriate to try and align advice that we give to the Australian travelling public about particular countries and whether you or don't qualify to be a refugee under the convention."
Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the Government is acting in the nation's best interests in deciding to suspend refugee applications from Sri Lanka for three months and Afghanistan for six months.
Senator Evans says 400 additional beds will be set up at Christmas Island in the coming weeks to cope with extra occupants expected as a result of the Government's decision. He says the Darwin Immigration Centre is also an option to house the asylum seekers.
