Abbott denies Oz paid migrant boats to turn back to Indonesia

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed reports that a migrant boat was paid by an Australian navy ship to return to Indonesia.

However, he added that the country had devised 'incredibly creative' ways to stop migrant boats from reaching Australia, reported the BBC.

Indonesian police had earlier said that they had detained the captain and crew of a boat for trafficking people in late May, who had revealed that an Australian navy ship had intercepted them at sea and paid USD 3,900 each to return to the South Asian country.

Indonesia had expressed deep concern at the revelation, which was rejected by Australia's immigration and foreign ministers too.