Govt may detain kids in Curtin: report

Brendan O'Connor says no decision has been made to send asylum seekers to Curtin detention centre. Source: AAP

THE federal government has yet to decide whether children will be sent to a controversial West Australian detention centre, noted for its history of riots and self-harm.

The government is reportedly considering housing asylum-seeker families, who have arrived by boat, at the isolated Curtin detention centre which is currently only used for single adult males.

The former Howard coalition government opened the facility in 1999 but closed it three years later following incidents of self-harm, riots and a mass escape.

The news comes as another two asylum-seeker boats, with 132 people on board, were intercepted near Christmas Island and Darwin on Sunday.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor would not rule out sending children to the Curtin detention centre.

"What we will do is make decisions about what's the best way to look after those who are in our care," he told ABC Radio on Monday.

"That decision will be made ensuring we protect the interests of those kids."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the only way to avoid detaining women and children was to stop the boats.

"I regret to say that it's very difficult to avoid having women and children in some form of detention if you've got illegal arrivals on this scale," he told reporters in Perth.

Mr Abbott reiterated a coalition government would reinstate Howard-era policies such as temporary protection visas and turning boats back.

"The Howard government was able to end the detention of women and children because it stopped the boats - it's as simple as that," he said.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young urged the Gillard government not to send children to the "disastrous" Curtin facility while refugee advocates ChilOut said community detention was a more cost-effective and less harmful option.

Meanwhile, Mr O'Connor accused Mr Abbott of being "happy to risk the safety of our servicemen and women" after the opposition leader conceded on Sunday that turning boats back might be dangerous.

But the opposition leader says Australian authorities, who managed to turn seven boats around under former prime minister John Howard, will be able to do it again.

"I don't pretend for a second that this is simple or easy but it can be done," he said.

"I have a lot of faith in the professionalism of the Royal Australian Navy and I am confident that what they have done in the past they can do again in the future if needs be."

Mr O'Connor said the opposition's tow-back policy was irresponsible and against the national interest.

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