Alex Ellinghausen/Fairfax Michael Pezzullo, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, during a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House.

CANBERRA -- A fiery exchange in Parliament over Australian's heavily criticised offshore detention program has lead to the head of Immigration Department Mike Pezzullo joking about torture. Pezzullo was being quizzed by Greens senator Nick McKim in a senate estimates hearing on Monday over the imminent closure of the Manus Island regional processing centre. The hearing heard there are still 606 men at the centre, which will have its power and water shut down in eight days before it will taken over by the Papua New Guinea military.

" I don't think torture is a laughing matter"- @NickMcKim and Mike Pezzullo clash over the closure of Manus Island RPC pic.twitter.com/oUAYGwANsj — Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) October 23, 2017

The Greens senator is concerned the shutdown may end in violence and injury. Pezzullo rejected this, but McKim decided to goad Pezzullo him by raising the word "torture", a reminder that the UN has accused Australia of systematically violating the international Convention Against Torture by detaining asylum seekers on Manus Island. "Spare us the fake sympathy. You have been torturing them for four and half years," the senator declared. This set off the Department head who was giving evidence to the Greens senator with his arms firmly crossed. "I reject any assertion that this department has been torturing anyone. The only torture I am aware of is sometimes when we have to appear here," Pezzullo said. At least one person was heard laughing to that proposition and Pezzullo and minister Michaelia Cash smiled. McKim took immediate umbrage. "I don't think torture is a laughing matter, Mr Pezzullo," he fired back.

The government confirms that basic services at its Manus Island prison will be cut off, despite 600 men refusing to leave. pic.twitter.com/cGbAJs6rMr — Nick McKim (@NickMcKim) October 23, 2017

Pezzullo attempted to explain. "I don't know how to get through to you on occasions Senator, whether it is by deft responses or just by frankly sometimes highlighting just how silly these conversations can get," he said.

More torture gags: Kim Carr says it's a "torturous process" extracting answers, Pezzullo jokes "we can't make reference to that" #estimates — Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) October 23, 2017