Australia Seals $267M Deportation Deal with Nauru, Human Rights Groups Raise Alarm

Australia has signed a controversial deportation agreement with Nauru worth 408 million Australian dollars (approximately $267 million), sparking widespread criticism from human rights and refugee advocacy groups.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the Albanese government will pay Nauru the full amount upfront once the first individuals arrive, followed by an annual payment of 70 million Australian dollars ($46 million) to support their resettlement.

The deal comes as part of efforts to manage individuals released from immigration detention following a landmark 2023 High Court ruling that ended the policy of indefinite detention. The court found it unlawful to hold people indefinitely if they could not obtain a visa and could not be safely deported to their home countries due to the risk of persecution or harm.

More than 200 people were released after the ruling, some of whom have been linked to subsequent criminal offences. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the agreement is designed to address this group.

“Anyone who doesn’t have a valid visa should leave the country. This is a fundamental element of a functioning visa system,” Burke said in a statement, adding that the deal includes assurances for the “proper treatment and long-term residence” of deportees in Nauru.

The move has reignited concerns among refugee advocates and human rights groups, who warn the arrangement could lead to forced deportations and breaches of international law.

Jana Favero, deputy CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, condemned the deal, calling it “discriminatory, disgraceful and dangerous.” She said, “At a time when the entire country has just voted for unity and rejected fear, rather than embrace this and show leadership, the Albanese Government has launched yet another attack on migrants and refugees.”

The new agreement follows a February deal allowing Australia to deport three violent offenders to Nauru, where they were granted 30-year visas.

Critics also point to previous findings by the United Nations that identified “systematic violations” of the International Convention Against Torture in Nauru’s immigration detention practices.

Despite the backlash, the government maintains the policy is essential for preserving the integrity of the immigration system.