Dutton would make Hanson proud: Labor

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has pounced on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's comments on refugees saying Pauline Hanson would be proud.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused Immigration Minister Peter Dutton of insulting Australia's great migrant history.

Mr Dutton is under fire for suggesting "illiterate and innumerate" refugees will swamp welfare queues and take the jobs of locals if the annual humanitarian intake is increased to levels proposed by Labor and the Greens.

"Mr Dutton's comments are comments Pauline Hanson would have been proud to make," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.