Indonesia should protect borders: Bishop

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has urged Indonesia to enforce sovereignty over its own borders amid claims Australian officials paid people smugglers to turn back an asylum seeker boat.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott continued to refuse to confirm or deny the reports over the weekend as Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi sought answers from Australia's ambassador Paul Grigson.

Ms Bishop told The Australian the best way for Indonesia to resolve its concerns about Operation Sovereign Borders was to "enforce sovereignty over its borders".

Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles says Australia has to have a co-operative relationship with Indonesia when it comes to asylum seeker boats.

Asked whether he agreed with Ms Bishop that Indonesia needed to get its own house in order, Mr Marles told ABC radio: "I don't think now is the time for the Australian government to be walking down that path."