Stopping asylum seeker boats will deliver a $500 million saving to the federal budget.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says that's on top of the human benefit from the government's border protection policy.
Stopping the boats has allowed the closure of 13 immigration detention centres and there now is no need to return asylum seekers on expensive air charters, he says.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was dismissive of Mr Abbott's claim of savings.
"Well I don't accept it, we need to see the numbers," he told reporters in Sydney.
Mr Shorten twice declined to say whether Labor would continue Operation Sovereign Borders if it wins the next election.
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