About 100 asylum seekers are refusing to return to the Christmas Island detention centre after a mass breakout, the immigration department says.
More than 150 asylum seekers broke out of the main immigration detention centre on the island about 10pm on Friday (2am Saturday AEDT).
"A large group of detainees breached security at the centre early today and they have been monitored by police and detention services staff at all times," an immigration department spokesman said.
"About 50 detainees are returning to the centre and efforts continue to encourage the remainder to return to their accommodation blocks.
"These people are being actively managed by detention services staff and police."
The spokesman said about 100 more had made it close to the Christmas Island airport, a long distance from the centre, which houses single adult males at North-West Point.
It is understood the asylum seekers damaged gates and fences at the centre during the breakout.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said tension and frustration had been building over delays with processing asylum claims and restrictions placed on movements between compounds on Friday.
"The delays in processing are unforgivable," Mr Rintoul said.
"There are refugees waiting for over 18 months for security clearances after they have been found to be refugees.
"The breakout is reminiscent of the breakouts from Woomera and Port Hedland in the early 2000s as detention conditions became unbearable."
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the breakout was a further sign the immigration detention system was breaking down.
"This is a very concerning development and a further sign of the rolling crisis in our immigration detention network caused by Labor's failed border protection policies," Mr Morrison said.
More than half of the 6500 people in detention had been there for more than six months, compared to less than 20 per cent a year ago, Mr Morrison said.
"Labor's discriminatory asylum freeze, court appeals and processing delays caused by the unprecedented strain on the system are taking a heavy toll.
"This is what happens when failed border protection policies see over 10,300 people arrive on 211 boats since Labor began winding back the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Howard government in August 2008."
Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said mandatory detention was a failure.
"Unfortunately, this isn't a one-off event. It's symptomatic of the desperation these people feel," Senator Hanson-Young said.
Tensions were increasing on Christmas Island, Senator Hanson-Young said.
"It's like a pressure cooker," she said.
"Without action from government, this situation is only going to get worse."
The party's immigration spokeswoman said her private senator's bill before parliament would end mandatory detention by providing a judicial review.
"I encourage the government to consider this as a way of improving its failing immigration system," Senator Hanson-Young said.
Serco, the detention services provider, DIAC and the Australian Federal Police are continuing to engage with the escapees and the Christmas Island community.
A full investigation into the circumstances of the incident will be conducted, the immigration department spokesman said.
"Such actions will not influence the outcome of people's cases and we will be undertaking further discussions with those involved as to the acceptable way to raise any issues they may have," he said.
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