Morrison rejects UN report

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has flatly rejected criticism by the United Nations that Australia acts in defiance of its international obligations to refugees.

In response to a report by the UN Committee on Torture, Mr Morrison says the government's response is saving lives at sea.

The UN has slammed Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, warning harsh conditions in its offshore detention centres are causing serious physical and mental suffering.

The committee also believes the policy of turning back asylum-seeker boats raises the risk that some people could be returned to a place of persecution.

"Well, I don't share their view," Mr Morrison responded in Sydney on Saturday.

"Australia's border protection policies are made in Australia, nowhere else."

Mr Morrison said turning back boats, including sending 37 asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka on Wednesday, was the best deterrent.

On whether he was confident the returned asylum seekers would be mistreated in Sri Lanka, Mr Morrison said Australia had met its obligations.

"Because the screening process that we adopt...which we did at sea on the vessel in person with translators, in person, has ensured we have acquitted our obligations," he said.