The offshore processing centre, commissioned by the previous Howard government to handle illegal boat arrivals, has yet to be used.
The most recent arrivals are being held in an old centre on the island.
"(Former prime minister) John Howard was obviously expecting the need to use it and if we need to use it we will," Immigration Minister Chris Evans said in an interview.
Six vessels have reached Australian waters so far this year, carrying a fraction of the 5500 boat people who arrived at the peak in 2001.
The coalition argues a relaxation of its strong stance on mandatory detention is to blame for a spate of arrivals, saying the removal of temporary protection visas was a significant softening of policy.
But Senator Evans says it has more to do with people fleeing rising violence in Afghanistan.
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