A disturbance at the Villawood detention centre has been resolved, with three ringleaders moved to other parts of the facility.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he had no advice of any injuries, but there was some property damage after a fire in a bin at the Sydney centre.
He refused to comment on whether those involved were asylum seekers.
However, Mr Dutton told reporters in Canberra on Thursday the government had been left with a "hardened population" as it worked to clear Labor's caseload out of detention.
"As we clamp down on those who are breaking the law, who are committing serious criminal offences, the population within our detention centres becomes more ... difficult to deal with," he said.
Police are still investigating what sparked the incident, Mr Dutton said.
The minister warned the government would not tolerate unlawful behaviour.
