Australian Government Signs $408M Nauru Deportation Deal Amid Criticism

The Australian government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed a $408 million deal with Nauru to resettle approximately 280 formerly detained asylum seekers, known as the NZYQ cohort, many of whom have criminal records or face persecution in their home countries. This agreement, including an additional $70 million annual payment, was quietly announced and faces criticism for lacking transparency and removing procedural fairness, as affected individuals may not have a chance to contest their transfer. Human rights advocates, refugee organizations, and Greens have condemned the deal as discriminatory and dangerous, highlighting concerns about Nauru's limited healthcare, high unemployment, and vulnerability to climate change. The deal follows a 2023 High Court ruling that deemed indefinite detention unlawful if removal was not foreseeable. Within the Liberal Party, opinions are divided on the government's immigration approach, with some supporting recent anti-immigration protests while others condemn them. Critics argue the government is offloading complex immigration issues onto Nauru, raising ethical and humanitarian concerns about the treatment of these non-citizens.