Australia defends plan to send deportees to Nauru in the Pacific

Australia on Oct 19 defended a A$2.5 billion (S$2.1 billion) deal to deport hundreds of non-citizens to the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru over the next 30 years, a plan criticised by human rights groups.

- 

Australia’s centre-left Labor government in September signed the deal with Nauru to resettle people denied refugee visas because of criminal convictions, reviving claims that Australia was “dumping” refugees in small island states.

On Oct 19, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said 30-year visas issued to deportees would give them the right to work in Nauru, a country of 12,000 people that occupies just 21 sq km and relies on foreign aid.