Vandals have defaced a Liberal Party billboard in Perth just hours after it was unveiled by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

The billboard claimed more than 600 "illegal" asylum seeker boats have arrived in Australia since the Labor Party won government.

The number has since been whited out and replaced with a zero.

Also spray-painted on the billboard were the words: "No crime to seek asylum."

The sign has subsequently been replaced.

Mr Abbott addressed the vandalism today during a planned visit to Geraldton in the state's mid-west.

"I understand the billboard has now been vandalised," he said.

"Well, my message to the vandals is you can vandalise a billboard but you can't hide the facts.

"The facts are that this Government has totally, utterly, comprehensively, and, in the end, disgracefully failed on border protection."

The Opposition Leader was in Geraldton to discuss border protection with residents.

The billboard has now been replaced with the previous Liberal ad. ( Twitter: charlid08 )

A boat carrying more than 60 asylum seekers sailed undetected into the town's harbour earlier this month.

More than two-thirds of the group have since been sent home and the rest are being processed on Christmas Island.

Mr Abbott, meanwhile, has brushed off criticism from an Indonesian MP about his policy of turning back asylum seeker boats.

The Coalition has promised to revive the Howard-era policy if it wins government and direct the Navy to turn boats around when it is safe to do so.

A member of the Indonesian government has labelled Mr Abbott's comments "disrespectful" and says it shows a lack of understanding about the problem.

Mr Abbott says with the right diplomatic approach, he believes Indonesia will cooperate.

"What's been done in the past can be done in the future," he said.

"Turning boats around under the Howard government was quite compatible with a strong and getting-better relationship with Indonesia."