Gillard defends immigration policy

The former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defended the immigration policy of her government and insisted that the crews of migrant boats were never paid to turn back.

It follows claims in the last few days that an Australian navy ship paid the crew of a migrant boat to turn back to Indonesia. There have also been suggestions the practise is not new.

Mrs Gillard told Stephen Sackur her government had never authorised any such payments. She also defended her own government's record on immigration, during which time detention centres were re-opened to cope with the rising numbers of people trying to get into the country.

Watch the full interview on BBC World News on Wednesday 17 June at 19:30 and on the BBC News Channel at 20:30 and at 00:30 BST on Thursday 18 June. The programme can also be seen on BBC World News at 19:30 GMT on Wednesday and on Thursday at 03:30, 08:30, 14:30 and 19:30 GMT.