Lawyers representing more than 150 Tamil asylum seekers say they will use a High Court hearing to try to quash any attempts to return them to India.

The 157 asylum seekers, who were detained on an Australian Customs vessel for almost a month after being intercepted at sea, were expected to be flown from the Cocos Islands to the Curtin Detention Centre in remote Western Australia on Saturday night.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Saturday the government will still do whatever it can to stop the boats. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The arrival is a political blow for the Abbott government, which has promoted its success in preventing asylum seeker boats from reaching the Australian mainland.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Saturday the government remains committed to doing whatever it ''morally and ethically can'' to stop the boats.