RTX1D7M6
IN PHOTO: Migrants are seen aboard a boat tethered to a Thai navy vessel, in waters near Koh Lipe island, May 16, 2015. A boat crammed with migrants was towed out to sea by the Thai navy and then held up by Malaysian vessels on Saturday, the latest round of "maritime ping-pong" by Asian states determined not to let asylum seekers come ashore. The United Nations has called on countries around the Andaman Sea not to push back the thousands of desperate Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar now stranded in wooden boats, and to rescue them instead. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to comment on reports claiming Australian navy paid asylum boat crews thousands of dollars to turn back to Indonesia.

The Prime Minister, at the same time also admitted that Australia would do whatever it takes to stop asylum-seekers from entering the country. An Indonesian police chief was quoted saying the crew members were given $US 5,000 ($AU 6,498) each by Australian officials to turn back a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers.

Though Australian Foreign Minister also denied the allegation of bribing crew members to return asylum seekers, Indonesia's foreign ministry was not really convinced.

While speaking with Macquarie Radio, Mr. Abbott didn’t get into the details of the allegation, saying the operational measures of the security agencies should not be discussed publicly.

"What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook, because that's what we've got to do and that's what we've successfully done," Mr. Abbott said.

"I am proud of the work our border protection agencies have done, I really am proud of the work that they've done and they've been incredibly creative in coming up with a whole range of strategies to break this evil trade,” the Prime Minister added.

Meanwhile, the Labor's immigration spokesman criticised the bribing method to shoo away asylum seekers, saying it was a "very dangerous development" that saw Navy vessels turning into "floating ATM". Greens immigration spokeswoman is also of the same opinion, said paying asylum boat crews could be violating domestic and international law.

Contact the writer on barsha23@gmail.com

RELATED STORIES