Opposition calls for court action after 150 former detainees tangled in visa bungle

The Opposition has urged the Albanese government to return to court to force former detainees behind bars after an administration bungle could guarantee their release.

The High Court last year ruled the indefinite immigration detention of detainees, including some murderers and sex offenders, was unlawful and released them.

The government this week admitted a technical issue led to those 150 detainees being issued an invalid visa, which could see those imprisoned for breaching their visa conditions have their charges dropped and let free again.

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The Opposition has called for the federal government to take the matter to court hours ahead of lawmakers meeting in Canberra tonight.

They want preventative detention measures, which have already passed in parliament, to be used.

But the government said getting the applications right was crucial and takes time.

In the meantime, the detainees released have been subject to greater surveillance.

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"We've invested an extra quarter of a billion dollars to our law enforcement and security agencies to tackle this head on," Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said.

Paterson took aim at amendments to make it easier to apply for a visa currently going through in parliament while Deputy Opposition Leader Michaelia Cash claimed the federal government has given up entirely.

"A government that is serious and has it's hands on the wheel never gives up," she said.

Labor's caucus will be bolstered tomorrow by the swearing in of Jodie Belyea who won the Dunkley by-election amid the debate on immigration.

Many in the caucus, however, reportedly admit it would be disastrous for the government if the issue is still on agenda at the electorate's general election.