New Human Rights Commission report calls for urgent release of detainees

The Australian Human Rights Commission has issued 20 recommendations to the federal government, calling for a major reduction to the populations in immigration detention and for detention facilities on Christmas Island to be shut down.

FILE - Razor wire surrounds the Christmas Island detention centre where 53 Source: AAP

The report, 18 months in the making, reviews the measures taken by the Department of Home Affairs to mitigate the COVID-19 risks in immigration detention.

Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow says the department must urgently release people into community based alternatives.