Prime Minister Tony Abbott remains under pressure to either confirm or deny allegations the Australian Navy is paying people smugglers to turn around.
Explosive claims that the navy paid six crew members of a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers $US5000 ($A6,447) each to return to Indonesian waters surfaced on Friday with Mr Abbott's response leaving many fuming - including officials in Indonesia.
Mr Abbott did not deny the allegations in a radio interview but he did say officials were being "incredibly creative" in following Australia's policy to turn back the boats.
"What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook," the prime minister said.
"We have stopped the trade and we will do what we have to do to ensure that it stays stopped."
He also repeatedly refused to confirm whether Australia was investigating the claims.
His comments have been slammed by an Indonesian official, who says Mr Abbott's comments might be interpreted as endorsing bribery.
Agus Barnas, spokesman for Indonesia's co-ordinating ministry for political, legal and security affairs, also said the practice could encourage people smuggling.
The boat, travelling to New Zealand, was turned around and sent back to the Indonesian island of Rote in late May.
The asylum seekers have corroborated the account given by the crew and have spoken to police officers from New Zealand and Australia, a local police chief says.
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