PM plays down Dutton comments on Fraser

Malcolm Turnbull has played down Peter Dutton's linking of the Fraser government's immigration policies for current problems with radicalisation and gang violence.

The immigration minister sparked controversy when he said last week many foreign fighters getting involved in conflict zones were the children or grandchildren of migrants who came during the 1970s.

The prime minister said he hadn't seen Mr Dutton's interview.

"We are the most successful multicultural society in the world," he told reporters in Lima, after arriving for the APEC leaders summit.

"And that success is founded on mutual respect."