Suggestions by Peter Dutton that border security measures are not being supported by the government are “harmful” to operations, the communications minister says.

A war of words has broken out between the prime minister and opposition leader on border security measures, following the arrival of a boat carrying more than 20 men north of Broome.

The group, reportedly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, were found on Friday near a remote Indigenous community close to the former West Australian church mission of Beagle Bay.

While Mr Dutton said the arrival of the boat had signified weaknesses in border protection policy, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said such comments were being detrimental to efforts.

“I would be very cautionary in terms of Mr Dutton and his comments, as leading people in the Australian Border Force have said any suggestion of alternative narratives is actually harmful,” she told Sky News on Sunday.

“Operation Sovereign Borders has been operating in exactly the same way since it was introduced under the previous government, consistent with successive governments.”

Operation Sovereign Borders commander Rear Admiral Brett Sonter said alternative narratives had the potential to be exploited by people smugglers.

But Mr Dutton on Saturday said there was “no question about the fact Operation Sovereign Borders was not supported by the … government.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the arrivals had signalled the government was weak on border security.

“The damage is already done, you don’t get on a boat unless you’ve got something to sell to these people, and they’ve been telling them that Australia’s borders are porous,” he told Nine’s Today program.

“We need to make sure the resources are there for Border Force to intercept these people, because this is dangerous. This is people’s lives at risk as well, beyond our borders.”

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said a lack of funding for the Border Force had contributed to the issue.

“The government has ripped $600 million out of the Australian Border Force and so the question is, can we even surveil the northwest coast of Australia?” he told Sky News.

This post was originally published on Michael West.