Bishop grilled on asylum policy

AAP Julie Bishop has faced accusations that Australia's asylum seeker policy is uncivilised.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has faced accusations that Australia's treatment of asylum seekers is "inhumane and uncivilised" during a hostile BBC interview in London.

Ms Bishop is in the United Kingdom for the annual AUKMIN meeting with her British counterpart William Hague and the defence ministers of both countries.

But on Tuesday morning, BBC Radio 4's John Humphrys questioned her about Canberra's "inhumane" detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

The presenter noted they'd been described as having the look and feel of concentration camps and suggested Australia was "effectively operating a sort of Guantanamo Bay ... only in some ways even worse".

Ms Bishop defended Australia's policy, stating the federal government had taken a "tough line" to deter people making the journey by sea with consequent drownings.

"Our aim is to dismantle the people smuggling trade that flourished in South East Asia," the foreign minister told BBC radio.

"We've done this before and it worked."

Ms Bishop said people in detention centres were treated with respect and dignity and given healthcare and schooling.

On Manus Island the standard of accommodation and support people received "in many instances is better than that received by the people of Papua New Guinea," the foreign minister said.

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Bishop grilled on asylum policy