The office of then-immigration minister Peter Dutton demanded an au pair detained at Brisbane Airport be given "urgent" consideration for a visa - preferably within an hour.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Emails provided to a Senate inquiry on Wednesday show Mr Dutton's then-office asked the department to prepare a ministerial intervention briefing for the woman, Italian au pair Michela Marchisio.

She was about to be deported that night after officers found she planned to work while on a tourist visa.

"This is urgent. The minister requires this submission tonight (preferably in the next hour as he has an appointment at 7.30pm)," the email from Mr Dutton's departmental liaison officer said.