Liberal Party elder distances himself from Dutton following Amnesty International attack

Liberal Party elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's stinging attack on Amnesty International.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International released their report, 'By Hook or by Crook: Australia's abuse of asylum-seekers at sea'.

Later that afternoon, Mr Dutton came out on the attack and slammed the report. Today, he referred to the report as an "ideological attack" by the NGO.

"People are opposed to [boat turnbacks], including Amnesty, and I respect that but I think this has just been an opportunity to launch an ideological attack and I think that's why it needs to be addressed because the government is not going to be bullied into changing our position," Mr Dutton said.

Despite at one point being asked not to wear his Amnesty International lapel badge during his time as immigration minister in the Howard government, Mr Ruddock declared to Fairfax Media that he has "a lot of time" for the not for profit organisation.

Mr Ruddock, the longest-serving MP in Parliament, is a long-time supporter of the organisation.

"I would have dealt with things perhaps a touch differently, I have a lot of time for Amnesty," Mr Ruddock said.

However, Mr Ruddock agreed with Mr Dutton - when he called into question the credibility of the people smugglers who claimed they were bribed.

"When there are criminal acts, and this is what is alleged, those who are alleged to have paid money are guilty of an offence but so are those who received it and I haven't seen any action against those who are alleged to have been bribed," Mr Ruddock said.