London: Italy will imitate Australia’s “No Way” border control policy to stop migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and head of the populist far-right Lega party says.

Matteo Salvini, who is also the Minister of the Interior and one of the most powerful politicians in the country, has made similar comments before.

But his remarks on Italian radio on Thursday have been interpreted as a new push to toughen Italian border policy and keep refugees out by refusing them the right to step onto Italian soil if they come by boat.

Italy's media have paid new attention to Australia's border control policy after their Deputy Prime Minister vowed to imitate it to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Salvini has come under pressure after refusing to allow a ship from his own coast guard to disembark migrants it rescued at sea last week.