UN expert to check on asylum seeker policy

The United Nations is sending a human rights expert to check Australia's onshore immigration detention centres and asylum-seeker policy.

Francois Crepeau will also visit Canberra, Melbourne, Darwin and Sydney on a two-week fact finding mission from Sunday to assess Australia's border policies, laws and programs, and how they comply with human rights.

He will speak to government officials, unions and asylum seekers and present his draft findings on October 9 before his final report is due in June 2016.