The Australian opposition says to deal with asylum seekers arriving by boat, it would consider withdrawing Australia from the United Nations refugee convention.
The opposition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, says that would take a year to make an impact.
However, he says action is needed now.
The comment comes amid speculation that Australia is about to strike a new deal with Papua New Guinea to deal with asylum seekers.
Australia revived its policy of processing its asylum seekers abroad last year, by re-opening detention centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Last year, Australia had about 20,000 of the world's 940,000 pending cases lodged by asylum seekers.
