Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa said in Canberra on Thursday his country was committed to the regional framework, known as the Bali process, and that such a policy would not fit with this process.
Mr Natalegawa said a "comprehensive solution" was needed to tackle people smuggling, which was "increasingly becoming a big problem" in the region.
But Mr Abbott on Friday would not be moved from his policy.
"We've turned around the boats before, we can turn them around again," he told the Nine Network.
He said there was no reason why boats could not be sent back to Indonesia.
"Let's not forget that these are Indonesian flagged, Indonesian crewed, Indonesian home ported vessels that are coming from Indonesia. Of course they can go back to Indonesia."
