Labor is calling on the government to set up an independent inquiry into the Christmas Island detention centre riot, which ended on Tuesday with the use of force on some detainees.
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It comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said "people should frankly stick to the facts" as he described inmates at the facility as "serious criminals" who had access to fuel and a chainsaw during the unrest.
Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles said on Wednesday the government had serious questions to answer about its handling of the unrest, which broke out after the death of Iranian Kurd asylum seeker Fazel Chegeni.
The government has confirmed that some force, including tear gas, was used to restore order at the centre after additional Australian Federal Police officers were flown in on Tuesday.
"We need an independent and full investigation into the events that transpired following the death of a detainee outside the centre on Sunday, including the violent protests," Mr Marles said.
"It is critical we investigate the events at Christmas Island. We need to know that appropriate security is in place at the centre and staff are adequately trained to deal with detainees, including those that have had visas cancelled.
"The community need to have confidence in the integrity and operation of Australian funded detention facilities."
Mr Marles said the government must ensure that any inquiry into the events was transparent.
Mr Dutton defended the response to the unrest on Wednesday, telling media that inmates had access to fuel and there were reports of another detainee with a chainsaw.
"These are professionally trained Australian Federal Police officers and they use reasonable force and they attempted to negotiate with many of these people to start with," he told the ABC's Radio National.
"Many of the detainees were compliant and adhered to the directions given them by police and by the Australian Border Force officers. Others barricaded themselves in, had access to improvised weapons and they pose a serious threat."
Mr Dutton said the make-up of the population of Christmas Island had shifted to one that was composed of "serious criminals" who had had their visas cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act.
"I think people need to recognise that we are dealing here," he said.
"Outlaw motorcycle gang members, people who have been involved in extortion and other serious criminal offences, and that's a threat posed and the police used reasonable necessary force to quell the situation."
