The immigration department and not its minister will offer any apology to Save the Children aid workers wrongly booted off Nauru, a Senate committee has been told.
A federal government-commissioned review which investigated claims the workers fabricated abuse stories and coached asylum seekers into self-harm recommended they be compensated.
Immigration department secretary Michael Pezzullo told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday his office was still working out the extent of its legal liability.
The department wants to settle as soon as possible compensation claims from the aid organisation as well as separate claims from 10 workers.
Chief operating officer Jill Charker said the government had asked the Nauru government to have the removal orders revoked.
The department had also developed a standard operating procedure to ensure it obtained legal advice for invoking the relevant contract clause that allowed it to require a service provider to remove staff.
Asked if the previous minister Scott Morrison, who aired the accusations, had offered an apology Mr Pezzullo said he hoped he hadn't.
"I wouldn't counsel him to do that frankly, this is a matter for the department," he said.
"If there is any statement potentially of regret or remorse or indeed an apology it will be something I give."
