Australia starts to deport foreign prisoners to Nauru

(MENAFN) Australia has begun deporting foreign detainees to Nauru under a contentious new agreement with the small Pacific island nation, sparking widespread criticism from rights groups and opposition lawmakers.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Tuesday that “the first transfer had occurred” last Friday, but did not disclose how many individuals were deported. The move marks the first implementation of a deal reportedly worth A$2.5 billion ($1.23 billion), which critics say lacks transparency and violates human rights principles.

The deportations come after a 2023 High Court ruling that deemed indefinite immigration detention unlawful, forcing the government to release around 358 non-citizens—many of whom had previously been convicted of serious crimes such as assault, drug trafficking, and murder. Known as the “NZYQ cohort,” these individuals were left in legal limbo: unable to be returned to their home countries due to risks of persecution or diplomatic refusal, but also unwelcome in the Australian community.

To address the political and public fallout, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government amended the Migration Act last year to expand deportation powers, including provisions to pay third countries to accept foreign nationals. Under the deal finalized earlier this year, those sent to Nauru will receive 30-year visas, granting them the right to live and work among the island’s 12,500 residents. The initial transfer triggered a payment of A$408 million to support resettlement efforts.

Human rights advocates have condemned the secrecy surrounding the arrangement. One expert said the program had been “shrouded in secrecy from the outset,” noting that it is unclear whether deported individuals had family ties, medical needs, or ongoing legal appeals in Australia. Critics argue the policy undermines the country’s commitment to human rights, warning that deportees could face further displacement or repatriation once in Nauru.

Opposition figures echoed these concerns. A spokesperson from the Greens accused the government of keeping “key aspects of the deal from the Australian public,” calling the lack of transparency and communication “contemptuous.” They added, “No matter who you are or where you were born, governments should not be able to disappear you, send you off against your will to a country that you have zero connection to.”

Minister Burke, however, has defended the policy, saying he personally inspected facilities on Nauru and found them to be of “good” standard. “When somebody has come and treated Australians in a way that shows an appalling character, their visas do get cancelled and when their visas are cancelled, they should leave,” he said.

The new arrangement operates independently from Australia’s previous offshore processing system on Nauru, which was scaled back following years of international criticism over the mistreatment and harsh living conditions of asylum seekers detained there.

While the government insists the agreement ensures safety and oversight, the secrecy surrounding its terms and the massive public cost have intensified debate over Australia’s handling of non-citizens and its obligations under international law.

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