Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is concerned about asylum seekers in offshore detention centres but won't commit to changes in border policy.
Mr Turnbull said his policies would change but only after careful consideration and consultation with his ministers.
"Our policies will change - all policies change - but when we make changes we'll do so in a considered way," he told Sky News.
Mr Turnbull said he understood public sentiment on the issue, which he described as challenging and controversial.
"I have the same concerns about the situation of people on Manus (Island) and Nauru ... as I think almost all Australians would do," he said.
"But I'm not going to make changes on border protection policy sitting here."
The prime minister also flagged he was open to reversing a decision to exclude Immigration Minister Peter Dutton as a permanent member of the National Security Committee (NSC).
Mr Dutton would be seconded when security issues involving immigration arose and it was important the minister didn't waste his time on matters irrelevant to his portfolio.
"If experience suggests we should change the arrangements, we will," Mr Turnbull said.
"None of this has been written in stone but I would rather start off with the NSC being leaner."
