Australian search planes have been diverted to find two objects in the southern Indian Ocean "possibly related" to the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament that "new and credible information has come to light" relating to the search.
"The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has received information based on satellite imagery of objects possibly related to the search," he said.
"Following specialist analysis of this satellite imagery, two possible objects related to the search have been identified."
The Prime Minister said he had spoken with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, and cautioned that the objects had yet to be identified.
Mr Abbott said a RAAF Orion has been diverted to find the objects and was expected to reach the area around 2:15 AEDT.
He said three more aircraft would follow.
"They are tasked for more intensive follow-up search," he added.
Mr Abbott warned the task of locating the objects will be "extremely difficult", and "it may turn out that they are not related to the search."