Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull says his government’s border policies comply with international law but they are harsh and some would say cruel.

In an interview with the BBC’s HARDtalk overnight, Minister Turnbull said the measures are needed to end the people smuggling trade.

“We have measures, some would say they’re cruel measures. “I would say they’re harsh, I wouldn’t go so far as to say they’re cruel. Let’s not argue about semantics. The fact is if you want to stop the people smuggling business you have to be very, very tough.”

Read more: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/05/07/minister-turnbull-concedes-asylum-seeker-policies-are-harsh