Australia's immigration minister has defended his government's policy at a human rights inquiry into children being kept in immigration detention.
Scott Morrison spent nearly two hours in a heated exchange with the president of the Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs in Canberra on Friday.
Mr Morrison admitted that as a parent of two young children he felt a "moral burden" about his job, but says sentiment can not be a priority over effective policy to stop asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia.
"There is no decision that I, or any of my predecesors take as a minister in this area that is free of moral burden. Our decisions affect people's lives. It is a heavy responsibility that no minister carries lightly, regardless of political affiliation. Unlike commentators, a minister does not have the luxury of an opinion for which there are no consequences."
Scott Morrison.
However, Gillian Triggs accused the minister of accepting as collateral damage the mental and physical damage of children in long-term detention.
Australia has over 700 children in detention, including in offshore centres on Christmas Island and Nauru.
