BREAKING: Hundreds of foreign-born criminals will be deported to Nauru as part of a newly signed $400 million agreement between Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Nauru’s President David Adeang. This urgent development comes just hours after a memorandum of understanding was finalized in a meeting today.
The NZYQ cohort, consisting of approximately 350 foreign-born criminals—including convicted murderers and pedophiles—will be relocated to the Pacific island following a High Court ruling in November 2023. The court found that indefinite detention of non-citizens was unconstitutional without a clear removal plan in place. These individuals had previously been released from detention but refused to return to their countries of origin.
In a statement, Burke emphasized, “Anyone who doesn’t have a valid visa should leave the country. This is a fundamental element of a functioning visa system.” As part of the agreement, Nauru will provide long-term residence for these individuals who lack legal status in Australia.
The financial arrangement includes an upfront payment of $408 million to Nauru, followed by an annual payment of $70 million to cover ongoing costs. Payments are set to commence once the first deportee arrives on Nauru.
This deal follows the Australian government’s recent efforts to strengthen its deportation powers, particularly concerning the NZYQ cohort. Burke revealed proposed legislative changes that would allow the government to bypass the rules of natural justice in cases where there are “third country reception arrangements.” He stated, “The proposed changes would not do away with the requirement for procedural fairness during decisions to cancel or refuse a visa.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley criticized the legislation as being “rushed, secretive and chaotic,” while Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie labeled the situation as “shambolic.” Hastie further remarked, “This is the fifth time that Labor has been forced to introduce emergency legislation to tidy up its own NZYQ mess.”
This latest development is poised to have significant implications for Australia’s immigration policy and public safety. As the government moves forward with its plans, the focus will be on the operational logistics of transferring these individuals to Nauru and how it will impact both nations.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
