The cost to taxpayers of possible compensation for non-citizens held indefinitely in immigration detention is not yet known, the home affairs minister has conceded.
The High Court on Wednesday ruled detainees were able to sue the Commonwealth, creating a precedent for those held unlawfully to receive millions of dollars.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the impact of the decision to the federal government was still being examined.
"We're still working through the decision that came down and came down yesterday, the courts have not yet made any orders with respect to compensation," he told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
The case was brought by Austrian citizen Safwat Abdel-Hady, who was held in immigration detention and his visa was cancelled on character grounds.
