The men in charge of guarding Australia's borders have spoken of the heavy toll the deaths of asylum seekers have had on the men and women tasked with bringing them to safety.
The Commander Border Protection Command, Rear Admiral David Johnston, joined Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare in Sydney on Wednesday after the bodies of four suspected asylum seekers were plucked from rough seas after a cargo boat laden with people capsized off Christmas Island overnight.
One hundred and forty-four others, mostly from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, were rescued.
The tragedy comes days after a baby boy and eight others died at sea when their boat capsized en route to Australia.
Admiral Johnston said the boat arrivals placed a psychological burden on border protection officers.
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"It is a dreadful feeling in the stomach when we hear that a vessel has capsized or that it's in some difficulty," he told reporters.
"Recovering 144 people under the conditions that they did yesterday was extraordinary work ... My praise for them is unlimited."
Mr Clare said ensuring personnel had access to psychological support was a priority.
"It's a lot easier talking about it at a press conference here in Sydney than it is being out there on the high seas while waves are crashing against wooden boats that are lurching and then sinking in the middle of the ocean," he said.
