Calls for Nauru claims in royal commission

The peak welfare and aid bodies are calling for abuse claims in the Nauru immigration detention centre to be part of the royal commission into child abuse.

The Greens say the decision to send a pregnant woman back to Nauru where she was raped is horrific. (AAP) Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Welfare and aid groups want Nauru detention centre abuse claims investigated as part of the child abuse royal commission.

The peak bodies for aid and welfare said the findings about children in the Senate inquiry into the centre released on Monday were alarming and deserved wider scrutiny.

"It is vital that commonwealth action, or lack of action on child abuse be investigated by an independent commission," ACOSS and Australian Council for International Development said in a statement on Monday.

Charities have also poured scorn on centre operator Transfield's five-year contract extension despite criticism from the inquiry it had failed to run the centre well.

Save The Children said a rights-based group like theirs was better placed to run the centre.

The Australian Churches' Refugee Taskforce said Transfield's contract extension was inconceivable and the operator should be "punished for their poor performance, not rewarded."

The spotlight will be on mum and dad investors who hold shares in the operator, it added.