The first boat to test Rudd The first boat arrives. How many on board will see Nauru: The first group of boat people who could be sent to Papua New Guinea under the Australian government's tough new asylum seeker policy has been intercepted north of Christmas Island. A brief statement from Australian Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said a boat with 81 passengers and two crew on board was stopped by HMAS Bathurst on Saturday morning, and had been transferred to Christmas Island for health checks.