Peter Dutton said on Thursday that the estimated value of the damage caused by rioters at the Christmas Island facility is close to $10 million. He also confirmed that more detainees who have been a part of the riot will be moved from the island.

Initially the figure given by the government stood at $1 million, but Dutton told Ray Hadley on 2GB Radio that further assessment of the situation revealed the damage would cost the government much more.

"The initial figure that we looked at in the opening hours was over a million dollars. The figure that I was advised of yesterday and that, again they're still doing the assessment, the figure is closer to $10 million worth of damage," Dutton said. "If people want to think that this is the sort of damage that's been committed by somebody that's been involved in shoplifting and minor traffic offences, it just shows how wrong they are."

On Wednesday, the government confirmed that seven detainees were transferred from the island to a correctional home in Western Australia. Dutton said that the group consisted of five people from New Zealand, one individual from Tonga and the other from Afghanistan. But he said he cannot make any comment on their cases individually. According to a police source as reported by the ABC, two of the New Zealanders used to be members of an outlaw motorcycle gangs.

"These people will have to pay for the damage that they've caused through the criminal courts," Dutton said.

Dutton added that investigations are going on into the Serco management system at the centre after three guards were suspended following the escape and death of the Kurdish Iranian detainee.

The riots at the Christmas Island started on Sunday after the dead body of the escapee was discovered and other detainees thought something was not right about the death.

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