Dutton announces government will close 17 detention centres

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has announced the closure of 17 asylum seeker detention centres as the government prepares to release the federal budget.

Mr Dutton told federal parliament today the government would close the same number as Labor had opened while in government, but exactly which ones will close was unclear.

"We have reduced the number of children in detention from 2000 under Labor down to zero," he said.