Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser has thrown his support behind Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, saying neither of the major parties deserve a majority in both houses of parliament.

Mr Fraser says while it is unusual for him to support a particular person in the Senate, he feels strongly about Senator Hanson-Young's stance on asylum seekers.

The former Liberal party leader told a forum in Adelaide that he supports her bid for re-election, but not her party as a whole.

"Senator Hanson-Young, as she said, has been a resolute and fair-minded voice on an issue which is important to Australia and where the major parties have let Australia down very, very seriously," Mr Fraser said.

"We don't understand in this country the damage that our stance is doing to us around the world."

Mr Fraser says more discussions are needed on asylum seekers in a bid to find a long-term global solution.

"Our politicians speak as though we're the only target, everyone's trying to come here," he said.

"We are a tiny part of a world problem and other countries seem to me manage to handle it with a bit more compassion, with a bit more decency than we do."

Mr Fraser also told the forum that the Coalition's plan to turn back asylum seekers will not work.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says he is not concerned about the former prime minister's decision to support a Greens senator in the upcoming election.

Earlier today, Mr Morrison said the move would not damage the Liberal party brand.

"I think it just sort of demonstrates that the transformation of Mr Fraser is complete," Mr Morrison said.

Coalition says Australia shouldn't be influenced on asylum policy

Earlier today, Mr Morrison said regional cooperation on asylum seekers and border protection is important, but Australia must make decisions based on its own interests.

"Regional cooperation is one thing but Australia will always have to take the decisions that it needs to take on our side of the border in our own interests," he said.

"That is what John Howard meant when he said: 'We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come - and no-one else'."

Yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed to a one-off summit to address the issue of asylum seekers, to be held before the end of the month.

In a joint communiqué, they said "unilateral actions" might cause operational difficulties and jeopardise a regional approach to asylum seekers.

The agreement has been seen as a swipe at the Coalition's "turn back the boats" policy, but Mr Morrison says it is a reference to Mr Rudd dismantling offshore processing in his first term.

At yesterday's meeting in Indonesia Mr Rudd also announced the establishment of a $60 million, 10-year initiative to boost investment in Indonesia's Red Meat agri-business sector.

The Indonesian president has not yet agreed to the initiative, but welcomed the extra investment.