Did the Prime Minister say, "Asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru are basically economic refugees" ?

A leaked transcript of the infamous telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reveals that Mr Turnbull told the President said that asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru are 'basically economic refugees' from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

US President Donald Trump and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Source: SBS

Donald Trump warned Malcolm Turnbull that a deal to resettle 1250 asylum seekers from Australia's offshore detention centres in the US was "going to kill me" according to the transcript which was leaked by the  Washington Post newspaper.

The prime minister also told Mr Trump he had the option of taking none of the asylum seekers.

Speaking to reporters in Perth, Malcolm Turnbull said he always stands up for Australia's interests.