Full Story Australia's 'secret' deportation deal with Nauru
Sep 1, 2025
Ben Doherty, a Senior reporter for Guardian Australia specializing in immigration policies, delves into Australia's controversial deportation deal with Nauru. He discusses the government's nearly $400 million plan to deport around 280 non-citizens, which critics have called discriminatory and secretive. The conversation highlights the lack of transparency in the arrangements and the potential humanitarian crises that could emerge. Doherty also examines the historical context of Australia's offshore detention policies and their impact on both deported individuals and Nauru itself.
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Secret Six-Line Deal Revealed
- The Albanese government quietly signed a short, six-line deal with Nauru to deport hundreds of non-citizens.
- Ben Doherty highlights extreme secrecy with almost no operational details released to the public.
Costs And Chain-Deportation Risk
- The deal involves about A$400m up-front and A$70m a year for maintenance, paid to Nauru's funds.
- Doherty warns the arrangement leaves unclear destinations and risks chain deportation to persecutory countries.
Who The NZYQ Cohort Are
- The NZYQ cohort of ~280 were high-court subjects whose visas were cancelled on character grounds.
- Some are convicted, some not, and Australia argues they have no visa right to stay.