Ten aid workers kicked off Nauru

Ten aid workers have been suspended on full pay ahead of an investigation into claims Save the Children staff fabricated Nauru detention centre abuse stories and coached asylum seekers into self harm.

The federal government has appointed former integrity commissioner Philip Moss to head an independent inquiry into the claims, as well as sexual misconduct allegations aired earlier this week.

Accusations relating to the misuse of official information have also been referred to the Australian Federal Police.

Save the Children has denied any wrongdoing.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says, while sexual abuse claims shouldn't be taken lightly, he is concerned they have been used as a political tactic of people who oppose offshore processing.

"If people want to be political activists, that's their choice. But they don't get to do it on the taxpayer's dollar," the minister said on Thursday.

The minister has received intelligence reports that service provider staff were engaged in a broader campaign with external advocates to cast doubt on border protection policies.

This included allegedly doctoring official reports and orchestrating protests.

The government must have confidence contractors are acting with professionalism, he said.

Earlier this week, Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young demanded the immigration department investigate claims women and children had been sexually exploited, including allegations guards were forcing them to strip for shower access.

"Certainly the allegations of sexual misconduct are abhorrent and I would be horrified to think that things of that nature have taken place," Mr Morrison said.

"We need to get to the bottom of these things."

Save the Children chief executive Paul Ronalds accused the government of deflecting attention and said the intelligence report had not been provided to his organisation.

"I think that the Australian government's announcement in relation to Cambodia and in relation to temporary protection visas has significantly increased tensions on the island and led to increased self-harm," Mr Ronalds said.

He rejected claims staff had fabricated stories of abuse or encouraged or coached children to self-harm.

Such action was already well documented.

"Children have taken the drastic step of sewing their lips together and refusing food and water in protest at their indefinite incarceration," he said.

Save the Children has around 150 staff on Nauru at any one time, with a pool of workers doing three-week shifts providing various welfare, education and health services.

Labor immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the independent inquiry should also look at the conduct of Mr Morrison's office which leaked an intelligence report to the media.

"It has to look at everyone playing political games," Mr Marles said.

"The minister needs to stop finding scapegoats and start taking responsibility for what's going on on Nauru."

Senator Hanson-Young said it appeared Mr Morrison had prejudged the sexual abuse allegations.

Mr Moss will provide an interim report within seven weeks and a final report by the end of the year.