The Sri Lankans who arrived undetected in Geraldton harbour on Tuesday were last night on a charter flight to Christmas Island, as refugee advocates voiced concerns the group was being shielded from lawyers.

Most of the 66 passengers aboard the donated Deutsche Bank vessel, whose stealth arrival to the mainland triggered an internal Customs and Border Protection review, left Perth last night for Christmas Island.

As the political fallout continued over how the boat managed to evade authorities, Refugee Rights Action Network spokeswoman Victoria Martin-Iverson said advocates and lawyers were not given access to the male asylum-seekers, who had been held in a separate area within the Northam detention centre.

Ms Martin-Iverson said if the government sought to repatriate the group to Sri Lanka without properly assessing their claims it would be a "rather extreme step" that violated Australia's responsibility under international law.
Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor said the government would "always fulfil" its legal obligations.

"We'll treat people equally and fairly under the law, and we're not looking to make an example of anyone," Mr O'Connor told ABC Radio.

An Immigration spokesman last night said officials would "respond to any request that they (the group) would put to us, whether that be for information or for access to a lawyer".

But refugee advocate Marion Le said if the group of Sri Lankans were intending to go to New Zealand, as they suggested on arrival, the government was on shaky legal ground detaining them.

"I question whether they have any legal right to take these people into custody in the first place, it is a live legal question," Ms Le said.

Ms Le said given the group had managed to reach the busy West Australian port before Labor's laws to excise the mainland from the migration zone passed the parliament means any attempt by the government to immediately turn them around would be "a very serious breach of international law".

A spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also warned that if "people claim asylum in Australia; they are entitled to a full and proper assessment of their claim".

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said Labor's delay in passing the legislation to excise the mainland had "left the sea gate open for people-smugglers to send their boats to the mainland direct".(The Australian)