Fifty five asylum seekers feared drowned off Australia Our priority in these operations remains the protection of life, responding to water rescues which may prevent any further loss of life. Thousands of asylum seekers, commonly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, make the treacherous journey - usually from Indonesia - to Australia on small boats, hoping not to get detected by the navy coast guard or if they are picked up they will be processed and receive asylum. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Julian Clare said a majority of the asylum seekers were male but their origin was unknown. "This is another terrible tragedy, another terrible reminder of how dangerous these journeys are," he said on Sunday. Refugee campaigners and the Green Party criticised the rescue effort for being too slow to respond. Former ambassador Tony Kevin called for a full inquiry, arguing that border officials did not act quickly enough. Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul also said retrieving the bodies would be a comfort to the families left behind. Asylum seekers travelling to Australia via boat has become a major political dilemma for the government, ramped up recently as several of their boats have disappeared.