Australia has entered into a $267 million (₹2,216 crore) agreement with Nauru, specifically for the deportation of non-visa holders. The deal involves the transfer of Australian non-visa holders to Nauru. Nauru will receive ₹2,216 crore upon the initial arrival of deportees, followed by annual resettlement funds of ₹381 crore.
This policy decision has triggered protests, with human rights organizations expressing concerns. They claim that the agreement could potentially lead to widespread deportations, violating international legal standards.
Nauru, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, is among the smallest countries globally, with a land area of only 21 square kilometers. It is the third smallest country in the world, larger only than Vatican City and Monaco.
David Shoebridge, a Senator from the Greens party, has criticized the government’s decision, stating that it is forcing small nations to become ’21st-century prison colonies’.
The agreement also includes provisions for the deportation of violent criminals. The Australian Home Minister, Tony Burke, has stated that individuals without legal permission to remain in Australia will be given long-term housing and appropriate care in Nauru. A pre-existing agreement between the two nations, formed in February, enables Australia to deport violent offenders to Nauru. Burke has stressed the importance of non-visa holders leaving the country.
In 2023, the Australian High Court invalidated the government’s practice of indefinite detention of immigrants who couldn’t secure visas or be deported due to potential harm or persecution in their home countries.
The agreement has been subject to widespread condemnation. The Deputy CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Jana Favero, labeled the deal as discriminatory, shameful, and dangerous. She stated that the deal contradicts the public desire for unity and an end to fear, adding that instead of showing leadership, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is targeting migrants and refugees.