Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce understands some people object to offshore processing but it's necessary to stop people-smuggling.
Papua New Guinea's highest court has ruled the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island is illegal, but the deputy prime minister is standing by the policy.
"I understand that some find it abhorrent but the reality of the policy is this: we have stopped people drowning at sea," Mr Joyce told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
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