Immigration Minister Chris Bowen must be held to account over the "chaos" in Australia's detention centres, deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop says.
Ms Bishop says the violence that erupted in the Christmas Island detention centre this week was inevitable given the dangerously overcrowded conditions there.
It was clear the government had lost control of the system, she told the Nine Network on Sunday.
"The minister, Chris Bowen, must now be held to account," she said.
"Under his watch the detention centres have descended into utter chaos."
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Asked if he should be sacked from his portfolio, Ms Bishop said: "(Prime Minister) Julia Gillard should question his capacity to hold that portfolio.
"Ministerial accountability means that he is now responsible for what has gone on under his watch."
Ms Gillard condemned the violence on the island.
"Violence is wrong whether it's happening on Christmas Island or whether it was happening on the streets of Sydney last night.
"My message to anybody at Christmas Island would be they cannot and will not profit from this violence.
"There is a direct detriment to them. If their complaint is that they want to see claims processed, well violence slows that down."
