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Stopping the boats has improved Australia's relations with Indonesia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed on Tuesday.
This is despite an escalation of diplomatic tensions between the two countries over claims Australian officials paid people smuggling crews to turn back boats carrying asylum seekers and return to Indonesia.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has demanded answers about the allegations, while her Australian counterpart Julie Bishop has told Indonesia to smarten up its act on its borders and stop people smugglers boats filled asylum seekers from leaving in the first place.
Indonesia's vice-president Jusuf Kalla has also weighed in, saying such "bribes" would be "wrong" and "definitely incorrect in the context of bilateral relations".
Asked about the vice-president's comments, Mr Abbott bemoaned the "many media outlets" which he said were more focused on "promoting discord".
"The great thing about stopping the boats is that it has very much improved our relationship with Indonesia, we have a good relationship with Indonesia, it's a strong friendship, it's getting stronger all the time," he told reporters in Canberra.
"Occasionally, people will say things, which journalists like to savour and conjure, there are many media outlets that are more interested in promoting discord than in celebrating all the constructive things that happen between our two countries."
Mr Abbott said 250 people smugglers had been jailed, mostly in Indonesia as a result of Australian-Indonesian co-operation.
Ms Bishop and her Indonesian counterpart have not held formal ministerial level talks since the two Australian Bali nine ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed in April, in spite of Australia's sustained pleas for mercy.
However, Australia's Ambassador Paul Grigson who was recalled after the executions resumed his post last week in a preliminary step towards mending the relationship.
In opposition, Mr Abbott promised his foreign policy would be "more Jakarta and less Geneva" but relations soured shortly after his election, when it was revealed Australian spies had tapped the phone of former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when Labor was in power.
The relationship also ran into difficulty when it was revealed Australian navy vessels had intruded into Indonesia's waters during turn back operations.
A new poll conducted for the Lowy Institute shows Australians' feelings towards Indonesia have now fallen to their lowest point in eight years, placing sentiment toward Indonesia on par with Russia and Egypt.
The Lowy Institute says asylum seekers have been a "source of tension in the relationship", with 87 per cent of Australians believing Indonesia should do more to help Australia combat people smuggling.
