The class action was launched in 2014 on behalf of a now nine-year-old Iranian girl referred to as AS, who was detained for almost a year in total on Christmas Island, against then-immigration minister Scott Morrison and the Commonwealth.

The girl arrived by boat with her parents on Christmas Island in 2013.

Her lawyers said that during her months in detention she developed a dental infection, a stammer, separation anxiety and would wet her bed. She and her family have been living in the community on a temporary bridging visa since January 2015.

About 35,000 asylum seekers were detained on Christmas Island between 2011 and 2014. It is unknown how many have signed on as members of the class action.

Current immigration minister Peter Dutton and the Commonwealth successfully applied to halt the class action, with Supreme Court Justice Jack Forrest ruling on Monday that the child's claim was not representative of all the other asylum seekers' claims, which were too different to be dealt with together.

"I am satisfied that there is a lack of commonality between the claim of AS and those of other group members, and that her claim does not provide an efficient or effective means of dealing with the claims of group members," Justice Forrest said.

While AS had a personal injuries claim focused on the medical treatment she was given in detention, Justice Forrest said that that the members were held at different camps at the detention centre, and would have claims about different things including accommodation, or in the case of children, for educational facilities.

"But the fundamental point is that the circumstances of the detention of each group member is individual - the only common bond between the group members in relation to a personal injuries claim is their confinement at the Detention Centre," he said.

While AS' lawyers had argued her claim would show systemic failures in detention, the judge said "it is difficult to see how that could have any real benefit to the group member."

This means that the girl will now be the only asylum seeker suing the government for negligence, with the judge setting aside her false imprisonment claim until after her trial is determined.

Justice Forrest took a swipe at AS' lawyers, class action specialist law firm Maurice Blackburn, saying that they could have used sample group members to broaden the number of claims made against the Commonwealth beyond the child's case.

The judge rejected security company Serco's argument that the class action was an "abuse of process", saying they had previously been given permission to pursue the case from another judge.

AS' trial will begin in the Supreme Court on 26 April 26 and is expected to take between six and eight weeks.

Maurice Blackburn principal Tom Ballantyne said "We will carefully examine the decision and reasons of the court, and consider our legal options for appeal."

Mr Ballantyne said they would continue to fight for the rights of asylum seekers "who did not receive adequate care while in immigration detention on Christmas Island. There is no excuse for failing to provide appropriate treatment to people in immigration detention."

The government still faces another class action on 1 May from asylum seekers detained on Manus Island who added false imprisonment to their claim after the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court ruled their detention breached their constitution.

Fairfax Media has contacted Mr Dutton's office for comment