Afghanistan asylum seekers taking part in protests and hunger strikes at the Curtin detention center in Western Australia, on Tuesday demanded the federal government to grand "freedom or death" to them.
The move came one day after Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the federal government has signed a landmark deal with Afghanistan, which would see those Afghans whose asylum claims have failed be sent home.
Under the agreement, Australia can automatically send home those who fail to convince authorities they are genuine refugees.
The agreement is also aimed at helping the Afghan government cope with the return of the unsuccessful asylum seekers.
According to the Department of Immigration, between 20 and 30 asylum seekers on Tuesday continued to refuse food offered by the detention center staff.
Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition said a larger protest has also held on Monday night at the same facility in Western Australia's north, and at that time there were about 300 asylum seekers involved.
"There's about 300 who are part of the protest with placards and banners made out of bed sheets and pillow cases outside the Department of Immigration offices in the detention centre itself," Rintoul told Australia Associated Press (AAP) on Tuesday.
Rintoul said the asylum seekers were angry about the delays in the processing of their refugee claims, and wanted answers from the Department of Immigration.
According to a statement issued by advocate Jack Smit from Project SafeCom, an Afghanistan refugee said one young man had attempted to kill himself on Monday morning.
"There have been a couple of serious self harm incidents in recent days, a couple of days ago, where one guy badly slashed himself and I understand he's still in hospital," Rintoul said.
A spokeswoman for the Immigration Department told AAP that staff are negotiating with the protesters and are encouraging those refusing food to end their hunger strike.
She said protest actions such as this does not alter the outcome of asylum claims or any other aspect of detention or processing.