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Whatsapp New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has maintained Australia's hardline policy on asylum seekers.

The newly appointed prime minister has expressed concern over the state of offshore processing centres, but echoed the hardline position of his predecessor with regards to asylum seeker resettlement. RN Drive reports.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has emphatically stated that asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru will never be resettled in Australia.

pq You could say we have a harsh border protection policy, but it has worked.

Speaking to RN Drive, Turnbull categorically ruled out a change to the government's offshore processing policy.

'It is absolutely clear that there will be no resettlement of people on Manus Island and Nauru in Australia. They will never come to Australia,' he said.

'I know that's tough. You could say we have a harsh border protection policy, but it has worked.'

The conditions of Australia's offshore detention centres have been the subject of continued criticism, and Turnbull admitted to concern over their current standard.

'Of course we're concerned about conditions there. Who would not be concerned about it?' he said.

'It is not an ideal environment. We are doing everything we can to encourage them to return from whence they came.

'I know it is tough, but the fact is that we cannot take a backward step on this issue.'

During a frank interview with RN Drive's Patricia Karvelas, the newly appointed Turnbull repeatedly railed against former prime minister Kevin Rudd and his changes to the Howard government's border protection policy.

'Kevin [Rudd] got his way; he conducted an experiment if you like. It had a tragic cost,' said Turnbull.

'The one thing that absolutely dictates the rate of arrivals is our domestic policy. Stopping the boats has saved thousands of lives.

'This is not an ideological issue. This is a practical issue.'

The new prime minister for Indigenous affairs?

During his time as prime minister, the recently ousted Tony Abbott staunchly declared that he would be the prime minister for Indigenous affairs.

While issuing a commitment to Indigenous Australians, Turnbull resisted applying the same rhetoric.

'I am the prime minister for all Australians, and that of course includes the first Australians,' he said.

'I want our Indigenous Australians to have the same opportunities as everyone else.'

Turnbull would not commit to following his predecessor in spending a week in a remote Indigenous community each year, however he reserved special praise for Abbott's work in that area.

'It would be hard to match Tony's personal engagement that he has had with Indigenous communities,' said Turnbull.

'I will certainly talk with [minister for Indigenous affairs] Nigel Scullion about the best way to engage with communities.'

Turnbull said he has conducted constructive discussions with senior Indigenous leaders Noel Pearson, Warren Mundine, Tanya Hosch, Mick Gooda and Patrick Dodson since assuming the role of prime minister last week.

He said forthcoming rounds of consultation would prove significant in the process of developing constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.

'Every Australian is entitled to have their voice in my ear.'

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Listen to the full interview with Malcolm Turnbull.

RN Drive takes you behind the day’s headlines, with an engaging mix of current affairs, analysis, arts and culture from across Australia and around the world.