Navy rejects officers angry over boats

The head of Australia's navy has rejected claims there's growing anger among his officers over the federal government's border protection policies.

Chief of Navy Ray Griggs was responding to media reports that navy personnel are being strained by the high number of boat arrivals and the grim task of plucking dead asylum seekers from the water.

"I reject very strongly the assertions that have been made that there is growing anger in the navy at the current government's border protection policy," Vice Admiral Griggs said in Canberra on Friday.

"This is simply not true."

He acknowledged that some officers had their own personal views on the issue and might get frustrated from time to time.

"(But) they all understand what our job in the navy is," he said.

Officers are faced with "enormous challenges in this relentless and gruelling operation where their actions and decisions face enormous scrutiny", he said.

"They are certainly weary when they come off rotation and I do care deeply about the potential long-term impact of these activities on them."

That's why the navy has in recent years developed a mental health surveillance and support program, the vice admiral said.

He said he wouldn't be commenting directly on government or opposition policies on border protection.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said defence force chief General David Hurley had already given a commitment that the defence forces would implement the policy of the government of the day.

"The arrangement we announced yesterday is entirely consistent with the use of military and chain of command issues," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"This business of 'This can't be done' or 'reporting arrangements contradict chains of command' is complete and utter bunkum.

"Of course this can be done, we've done it numerous times before, Border Protection Command operates on these principles."