PM's refugee comments ignorant: Marles

Labor has accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of ignorant and "deeply irresponsible" comments over thousands of refuges stranded in South-East Asian waters.

Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles, who is in Myanmar (Burma), says Mr Abbott's declaration that countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand should turn back boats is deeply unhelpful for the region.

The comments ignored the difference between the situation there and that faced by Australia in relation to asylum seekers, he told ABC radio on Wednesday.