A group of up to 30 Afghan detainees at the
Curtin detention center in Western Australia on Tuesday launched a hunger strike.
The move came one day after Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced that 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 are refusing food offered by the detention center staff.

A spokeswoman for the Immigration Department said staff are negotiating with the protesters and are encouraging those refusing food to end their hunger strike.
She said the protest would not affect the outcome of the detainees' asylum seeker claims.
A larger protest was held on Monday night at the same facility in Western Australia's north, and at that time there were up to 150 asylum seekers refused for food.