I was looking at his comments earler. this isn't the first time he's made these points either.
Retired Admiral Chris Barrie was required to implement former prime minister John Howard's policy of turning back boats when safe to do so.
Now that the policy is being revived as one of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s key election promises, Admiral Barrie fears there will be a return to people smugglers sabotaging their boats.
He says previously, people smugglers would destroy their engines to stop the Royal Australian Navy from returning boats to Indonesia.
He says a return to the 'turn back the boats’ policy will put the Navy at greater risk, because they will have to respond to boats that are intentionally scuttled, and rescue drowning asylum seekers.
“People smugglers will want to frustrate that policy in every way possible, and that will put people’s lives at risk,” Admiral Barrie told ABC Radio's Richard Margetson in Darwin.
“Our people are going to jump into the sea to save their lives and do extraordinary things because they're so compassionate about it.
“I hope no one from our navy or the customs service will lose their lives but it puts people at risk and that is why it's a bad policy, in my view.”
