Australia will fund a new resettlement program in Nauru for foreign-born criminals who cannot be deported or held indefinitely, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday.
The arrangement follows a 2023 High Court ruling that barred the indefinite detention of non-citizens with no viable resettlement options abroad. Under the deal, Nauru a Pacific island nation of just 13,000 people will accept individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in Australia but cannot be returned to their home countries due to international protection obligations.
While Albanese declined to confirm reports of an AU$400 million ($262 million) establishment payment and AU$70 million ($46 million) in annual support, he stressed the need for alternative destinations. “People who have no right to be here need to be found somewhere to go, if they can’t go home,” he said, citing legal and humanitarian constraints.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke travelled to Nauru last week to sign a memorandum of understanding with President David Adeang. The agreement promises “proper treatment and long-term residence” for transferees, backed by Australian funding to bolster Nauru’s economic resilience.
The plan will take effect once the first arrivals are transferred, with long-term visas issued to those accepted. Advocacy groups, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Center, say Nauru is preparing to grant 280 visas under the scheme.
Critics have raised concerns over proposed legislation tied to the deal, which would remove certain appeal rights for deportation cases. If passed, the law would also cancel visas currently under court review, tightening the government’s control over removals.
This agreement marks a significant shift in Australia’s immigration enforcement strategy, blending offshore resettlement with domestic legal reform.
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