Labor MP slams asylum seeker policy

Labor's Anna Burke has used her final speech to parliament to urge a change to Australia's asylum-seeker policy.

Outgoing Labor member for Chisholm Anna Burke. Source: AAP

Outgoing Labor veteran Anna Burke has fired a parting shot against Australia's asylum-seeker policy insisting "something needs to be done".

"These are people so traumatised, some of them are setting themselves on fire," the former Speaker told parliament in her valedictory speech on Thursday.

"These are not illegals, these are not criminals, these are refugees - I know we can do better."