Prime Minister Julia Gillard says stopping the boats with a regional processing system would be Labor's top priority if re-elected on Saturday.
The promise came as the coalition promised to set up a hotline, so Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, as prime minister, could personally decide whether to turn boats around after talking to border patrol commanders.
Ms Gillard told reporters in Townsville on Tuesday, north Queensland, it was a crucial issue.
"I don't want to see people risking their lives at sea, I don't want to see people smugglers profiting," she told The Courier-Mail.
"I obviously want to make sure that we are focused on achieving what I've outlined, a regional plan and a regional processing centre."
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Ms Gillard blamed Mr Abbott for any confusion or undermining of Australia's position on immigration.
"I've taken some care during this campaign and in the lead up to it ... to factually and honestly explain to the Australian people the circumstances with asylum seekers," she said.
"Others have used more inflammatory language.
"It's not me in this campaign that said peaceful invasion, it's not me that said armada of boats."
