By Indonesia correspondent Geoff ThompsonPrime Minister Kevin...

By Indonesia correspondent Geoff Thompson
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has rejected the argument that his Government's changes to immigration policy have led to a "spike" in attempts by asylum seekers to reach Australia.

Speaking in Bali at a forum promoting democracy, Mr Rudd said there is an erroneous view that such attempts were reduced by the previous Government's detention policies.

"If you were to compare the numbers, year on year in terms of arrivals in Australia, it shows that we've had a continuing problem in recent years," he said.

The head of the Indonesian office of the International Organisation for Migration, Steve Cook, was recently quoted saying he believed the policy shift has influenced people smugglers, but he has since denied making those comments.

Mr Rudd says other factors are at work.

"When you have push factors at work and people being pushed... by a range of circumstances in to the arms of people smugglers."

He said the problem is a reality to be confronted in the years ahead.

Dave R.