Dutton, Labor at odds over policy briefing

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claims Labor has asked for its first briefing on Operation Sovereign Borders, but the opposition says it has been briefed numerous times on the "stop the boats" policy.

Mr Dutton told question time that Labor's immigration spokesman, Shayne Neumann, has just asked to be briefed on the policy five years after it was introduced.

"I feel almost like a proud father - you know when your child takes a first step or milestone? He is not yet speaking, he is a little slow at speaking but he has taken one baby step," Mr Dutton told parliament on Thursday of his opposite number.

But Labor says the party was briefed numerous times on Operation Sovereign Borders by the former Immigration and Border Protection Department, as well as by its replacement, Home Affairs.

The party says it recently asked for a further briefing on the government policy.