Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull has described the Coalition's measures to stop asylum seekers arriving by boat as "harsh" but necessary to combat people smuggling.
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His comments, in an interview overnight with the BBC, come as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said relations between Indonesia and Australia as "cordial", despite Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa criticising Australia over the government's boats policy.
Appearing on the BBC's HARDtalk program overnight, Mr Turnbull defended the government's controversial Operation Sovereign Borders, saying it complied with international law and noting that there had been "no unlawful arrivals" since last year.
When asked if he was comfortable with Australia's policy of "outsourcing its human rights responsibilities to ill-equipped third countries," Mr Turnbull replied: "I don't think any of us are entirely comfortable with any policies relating to border protection".
"We have harsh measures ... harsh measures, some would say they're cruel measures . . . [but] the fact is if you want to stop the people smuggling business you have be very, very tough."
Mr Turnbull said former prime minister Kevin Rudd had conducted a "massive social science experiment" when he closed offshore detention centres, resulting in a huge increase in boat arrivals and subsequent drownings at sea.
"It's been a catastrophe," he said.
The Communications Minister recorded the BBC interview last week during a trip to Europe. He is currently in Switzerland for meetings with the World Economic Forum and International Communication Union.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott moved to defuse tensions between Australia and Indonesia, by making a personal telephone call to Mr Yudhoyono, to express his "regret" at not being able to visit Indonesia this week.
It comes after the latest boat turn back, resulted in a stinging rebuke from Dr Natalegawa.
“[That boat] has been forced back. It proves that Abbott’s policy is not successful. Their unilateral policy coerces asylum seekers, threatens them and violates their human rights — and the policy doesn’t bear fruit [because the boats keep coming],'' he said.
“What Australia is doing now is clearly against and denies all comprehensive principles in dealing with the issue of asylum seekers. Australia is acting as if it can simply move the problem to its neighbour.”
Arriving in Canberra on Wednesday morning, before a cabinet meeting to discuss the budget, Ms Bishop also said she had spoken to Dr Natalegawa on Tuesday, but that the two discussed an upcoming meeting.
When asked about how she would describe Australia's relationship with Indonesia, she replied: "Cordial".
Labor leader Bill Shorten said he wanted the government to restore relations with Indonesia, saying things had deteriorated under the Coalition's watch.
"They're our neighbour, they're a large and successful and growing nation," he told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
With Michael Bachelard, AAP
