Mentally ill detention examined by Senate

The indefinite detention of mentally ill Australians will be examined by a Senate inquiry.

Greens senator Rachel Siewert said people with cognitive and mental impairment can in some cases be detained indefinitely without trial because there is no appropriate accommodation for them.

"It is time for us to crack open why this fundamental breach of human rights is happening right here in Australia, and how we can move to stop it," she said on Wednesday.