They say Australia had benefited significantly from the refugees intake

Labor have hit back at 'offensive' remarks and called on him to apologise

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says unemployment will rise dramatically if Australia opens its door to 'illiterate and innumerate' refugees, as a new poll shows voters do not want to increase asylum seeker intake.

Labor has pledged to ramp up the intake of refugees to 27,000 per year while the Greens want to bring that number to 50,000 - a move which Mr Dutton blasted on Sky News.

But Labor fired back at the 'narrow-minded and xenophobic' comments and called on the former minister for health to apologise, despite a recent poll showing that only 28 per cent of Australian voters want to increase the intake of refugees from the current figure of 13,750, SBS reported.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says unemployment will rise dramatically if Australia opens its door to 'illiterate' refugees

Labor fired back at the 'xenophobic' comments, despite a recent poll showing that only 28 per cent of Australian voters want to increase the intake of refugees from the current figure of 13,750 (stock image)

'For many people they won't be numerate or literate in their own language let alone English... these people would be taking Australian jobs and there is no question about that,' Mr Dutton told Sky.

'For many of them that would be unemployed, they would languish in unemployment queues and on Medicare and the rest of it so there would be huge cost and there's no sense in sugar-coating that,' the immigration minister added.

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen, who has served as an immigration minister, said Mr Dutton should apologise for the remarks, adding that Australia has benefited significantly from the contribution made by refugees who settled here.

'There are hundreds of thousands of refugees in Australia who have worked hard, educated themselves and their children and they will be shaking their heads ... in disgust,' Mr Bowen told ABC Radio.

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen, who has served as an immigration minister, said Mr Dutton should apologise for the remarks, adding that Australia has benefited significantly from the contribution made by refugees

Bill Shorten has pledged to ramp up the intake to 27,000 per year while the Greens policy is 50,000

A Labor spokesperson also called for Mr Dutton to apologise for the offensive remarks, which detract from Australia's overall acceptance of multiculturalism.

'These are deeply offensive comments and Mr Dutton should immediately apologise for these half-baked remarks,' the spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'This country has a proud tradition of multiculturalism and for Mr Dutton to make such narrow-minded and xenophobic remarks exposes the right-wing brigade behind Malcolm Turnbull.'

Interestingly, the Australian public appear to support Mr Turbull's policy on refugees with a recent poll conducted by ­Essential Research finding that 41 per cent of voters 'trust' the Liberal Party's policies on immigration, compared to just 28 per cent who would 'trust' the Labor Party.

'This country has a proud tradition of multicunsnsgrooturalism and for Mr Dutton to make such narrow-minded and xenophobic remarks exposes the right-wing brigade behind Malcolm Turnbull,' a Labor spokesperson said

Interestingly, the Australian public appear to support Mr Turbull's policy on refugees with a recent poll finding that 41 per cent of voters 'trust' the Liberal Party's policies on immigration (stock image)

The survey found that 59 per cent of those surveyed believe immigration to Australia has been too high over the last decade, with only 38 per cent agreeing that 'accepting refugees is something a wealthy nation like Australia should do to support poorer nations.

However, the poll results weren't entirely against immigration, with 62 per cent saying they believe multiculturalism and diversity has made Australia a better place, contrasting with Mr Dutton's recent comments.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young slammed Mr Dutton tirade against refugees, adding that his scaremongering techniques exposed the Liberal Party's xenophobia.

'Our nation has been built off the back off people who have come to Australia for a better life and (to) make their families safe,' she tweeted.