We won't be blackmailed on borders: Abbott

A report that a dozen mothers have attempted suicide on Christmas Island has been described as "harrowing" by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

But he says his government won't be held over a moral barrel when it comes to asylum seeker policy.

Fairfax Media says the women tried to end their lives because they believed their orphaned children would be allowed to settle in Australia.

It spoke to three independent sources who have confirmed the women attempted suicide after being told they would be taken to Nauru or Manus Island.

Mr Abbott said he had not seen the report, but added: "If true, it is a harrowing tale".

However, he said the government would not capitulate to "moral blackmail" when it came to border protection.

"This is not going to be a government which has our policy driven by people who are attempting to hold us over a moral barrel - we won't be driven by that," he told the Nine Network on Wednesday.

"No Australian government should be subjected to the spectacle of people saying `Unless you accept us, I am going to commit self harm'."

Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young has spoken to people inside the Christmas Island detention centre, and says there is truth to the reports of attempted suicide.

"Two nights ago almost ten mothers were on suicide watch," she told Sky News.

Senator Hanson-Young hit out at Mr Abbott for pushing people to a "point of self destruction", and for saying the mothers were trying to blackmail the government.

The coalition was "morally corrupt", she said.

"It's pretty horrific to push a mother to a point of saying 'Well, if I need to sacrifice myself for my children, maybe that's what I'll do'," she said.