Dutton refuses to deny smuggler payments

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is still refusing to deny Australian officials paid people smugglers to turn boats back.

An Amnesty International report released in October accused Australian officials of transnational crime, saying they paid $US32,000 to six people smuggler boat crews to return to Indonesia.

Mr Dutton repeatedly refused to rule out that any payments were made to people smugglers during an interview on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, but insisted officials acted within the law.