Abbott dismisses 'carping' critics

Tony Abbott has dismissed as "carping from the usual suspects" those who criticised advice he gave to European nations on how how to handle asylum seekers.

Mr Abbott, writing in The Spectator, said he was giving Europe respectful advice based on his own experience when he told governments to turn boats around and deny entry at the border to those with no legal right to come.

"It is the only way to prevent a tide of humanity surging through Europe and quite possibly changing it forever," the former prime minister said.