The Home Affairs department has been unable to provide evidence to back up its claim that self-harm cases had spiked in offshore processing following the passing of the Medevac bill.

Key points: Home Affairs said it had evidence that "influential transferees" were coaching others to self-harm

Home Affairs said it had evidence that "influential transferees" were coaching others to self-harm The department said the legislation was perceived as the most effective way for individuals to be transferred to Australia

The department said the legislation was perceived as the most effective way for individuals to be transferred to Australia Doctors helping to prepare Medevac applications rejected Home Affairs' argument, saying there was "absolutely no evidence"

Doctors helping to prepare medical transfer applications rejected the Department of Home Affairs' argument that the legislation had led to a spike in self-harm cases.

The department has argued that the legislation passed before the election caused asylum seekers to self-harm at a higher rate than normal because it was perceived to be the most effective way of being transferred to Australia.

A parliamentary inquiry is examining the Morrison Government's plan to repeal the legislation.

Under questioning during a parliamentary inquiry, Commander Operation Sovereign Borders, Major General Craig Furini, said there had been in increase since the election compared to the same time last year.

"We have gained insights through the intelligence that we gain that influential transferees, particularly those in PNG, are coaching others to self-harm in order to get to Australia," he said.

He was challenged by Greens senator Nick McKim to present the "evidentiary basis" for the claim that self-harm was perceived as being the quickest way for medical transfer to Australia.

Major-General Furini said he would take it on notice but was not able to provide evidence on Monday to the committee.

Earlier in the day, doctors helping to prepare Medevac applications rejected Home Affairs' argument.

"We've read six years of medical notes … mental health has normal ebbs and flows, we see this in the Australian community," Dr Neela Janakiramanan told the committee.

"There have been spikes, there has been lows, there is absolutely no evidence that there has been an increase in self-harm behaviour since the implementation of the medevac bill."

Former independent MP Kerryn Phelps, who supported the bill's passage through Parliament, described the department's claim as an "outrageous assertion".

"These individuals are suffering. They're not trying to make a point, they're trying to kill themselves because they've lost hope," she said.

Under the medevac law, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton will consider a request for an asylum seeker to be transferred to Australia for medical treatment on the recommendation of two doctors.

Mr Dutton can refuse the request on national security grounds but if he declines it for medical reasons, the case is then referred to a panel made up of government and independent doctors.

"In all cases, the Minister has proceeded to give the files to the Independent Health Assessment Panel," Dr Janakiramanan told the committee.

"So we can only presume there were no instances in which there were security issues."