Ten Chinese asylum seekers who planned to sail to New Zealand from Darwin are now seeking asylum in Australia.
Australia's Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, has confirmed the group have decided to stay in Australia amid widespread concern about the dangers of the planned trip to New Zealand.
The men, women and two children had sailed from Malaysia to Darwin, but there were concerns they might not have survived a potentially treacherous voyage to New Zealand.
They were picked up in Australian waters and taken to Darwin after issuing a distress call at the weekend.
"I obviously think that's a good outcome in that it means they won't be undertaking, yet again, another further dangerous boat journey," Bowen said.
"We'll now process them in the normal way."
The group are members of the spiritual movement Falun Gong and say they are on the run from persecution and torture in their homeland.
After arriving in Darwin, they said they want to carry on to New Zealand as they could face a long period locked up in mandatory detention if they stay in Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said officials could not stop the group from setting sail to New Zealand after their temporary visas expire on Saturday because their boat is seaworthy and they have not committed any crime.
One member of the group, a woman who would be identified only as Ms Wu, told The Australian: "We know Australia is a democratic and humanitarian country, but to be detained in (a) refugee camp will remind us of our terrible experience in China, in the detention and labour camp. We don't want to be detained any more. We'd rather risk our lives again."
Now that the group has decided to try to get asylum in Australia, they will be kept in a detention centre while the Australian Government processes their bid.
Processing is likely to be relatively swift given eight of them have passports.
Bowen said the government had not made any special deals to convince them to stay in Australia.
"They've come to their own decision," he said.
"I'm sure it wouldn't have been an easy decision for them; they weighed everything up."