The federal government is defending a decision to house 79 asylum seekers in a four-star Queensland motel, saying they are vulnerable families with children.
The Palms Motel in suburban Brisbane has reportedly been awarded a $1.2 million government contract for at least six months to accommodate the group of 79 asylum seekers.
A private security guard has been employed to protect them and other guests, the Nine Network said.
Senator Evans said this had been known for weeks and was consistent with the behaviour of the previous Howard government.
"This has been long established government policy," he told parliament on Tuesday.
"We make no apologies that we don't want children behind barbed wire."
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison acknowledged the practice was not new but said the latest move was due to an upsurge in boat arrivals.
"It happens when all of your detention centres are full," he said.
"That's why people are in motels."
The government's asylum seeker policy was out of control, Mr Morrison said, adding 16 boats had arrived since Labor announced it was suspending new claims by Sri Lankan and Afghan boat arrivals.
Family First senator Steve Fielding says the move will only encourage more unauthorised boat arrivals.
"First it was Hotel Christmas Island, now it's Hotel Queensland," he said in a statement.
"There is no way we should be detaining asylum seekers in hotels because it just gives the people smugglers an extra selling point."
The immigration department said the group was under 24-hour "monitoring and guarding".
"They're not allowed to come and go," spokesman Sandy Logan said.
"They've all been through full security and health checks before being transferred from Christmas Island."
Mr Morrison said the department should have consulted the local community about its plan.
Doing so would have taken the heat out of some of the reaction to the move, he said.
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