Inquiry into children in detention

Australia's human rights watchdog is setting up an inquiry into the detention of child asylum seekers.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs said about 1000 children are currently in immigration detention.

"We're not getting the level of information we used to get," she told ABC radio on Wednesday, flagging she would announce details of an inquiry soon.

She said as a matter of law children should not be detained unless it's a last resort.

"We're concerned holding children, beyond what is necessary for health checks and identity checks... to hold them for months or even years does really raise the question of Australia's compliance with its international obligations."

The inquiry comes in the wake of a damning report from the international Human Rights Watch group which accused the government of demonising those trying to reach Australia by boat.

"In 2013, successive Australian governments continued to engage in scare-mongering politics at the expense of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees," the report said.

"Successive governments have prioritised domestic politics over Australia's international legal obligations."