Asylum seeker is found after illegally entering into Australia by boat and separating from 'group of Chinese nationals' - as arrivals are hauled to Nauru

An asylum seeker has been found after he became separated from a group that illegally arrived in Australia by boat. 

He was located in the Mitchell Plateau area, in northern Western Australia, on Sunday morning and is now being assessed by authorities. 

It is believed he became separated from a 'group of Chinese nationals' who arrived  the Mungalalu Truscott Airbase in the remote Kimberley region on Friday afternoon. 

Questioned over border security concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese argued there will be no changes made to the nation's approach to border protection in response to the latest arrival.

'We have a very large coastline. What is clear, though, is that people who are unauthorised arrivals will not be settled in Australia,' he said.   

'Operation Sovereign Borders principles will apply as they have been in this case.' 

The boat arrival is understood to be the third illegal maritime landing on Australian soil in under six months.

A plane carrying the rest of the group to an offshore detention centre in Nauru departed RAAF Curtin base in Western Australia on Sunday morning, according to reports from The Australian.

On Sunday, Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson Home described the situation as a 'failure' and claimed the arrival would incentivise people smugglers to attempt to enter Australia.

'Aerial surveillance hours under this government's watch have dropped 20 per cent, maritime patrol days have dropped 12 per cent, and the result of that is people are getting through, they are getting onshore, and our border protection regime is being undermined,' he said.

'It's no surprise that people smugglers are testing their (the government's) will.'

Reports of the arrival have not been confirmed by either Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil or by the Australian Border Force, as per standard practice.

'The Australian Border Force does not confirm or comment on operational matters,' an ABF spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil did not give further details.

'As a long-standing practice we do not comment on operational matters,' the spokesperson said.

Saturday's incident is the third unknown boat to have reached the WA coastline since November.

In February, a boat carrying two groups of 39 Pakistan and Bangladesh foreign nationals were found on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome.

In November last year, Sovereign Borders Commander Rear Admiral Justin Jones confirmed a group of 12 refugees surpassed naval border forces, and reached the Truscott-Mungalalu Airbase.

In both incidents, they were intercepted by the ABF, and taken to Nauru.