A controversial bill that will introduce new temporary visas and give the government sweeping new maritime powers was passed in the Senate in the early hours of Friday morning

The bill will allow the government to detain asylum seekers, fast track refugee status determinations and distance itself from the Refugee Convention, of which it is a signatory.

Scott Morrison's last-minute promise to process the claims of tens of thousands of asylum seekers locked in the support of the crossbenchers. Credit:Andrew Meares

It will also mean that just over 100 children who are in immigration detention on Christmas Island will be released by Christmas, as promised by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday in a last minute pitch to the crossbenchers to garner their support.

The amended Act, which was the last bill to pass in the Senate for 2014, hinged on the support of six crossbenchers.