In a significant development, the Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has finalised a $400 million agreement with Nauru to deport hundreds of foreign-born criminals. This decision follows a crucial High Court ruling in November 2023, which deemed the indefinite detention of non-citizens unconstitutional unless accompanied by a removal plan. The specific group targeted for deportation, known as the NZYQ cohort, includes around 350 individuals, some of whom are serious offenders, including convicted murderers and paedophiles.
Burke met with Nauru’s President David Adeang to sign a memorandum of understanding, signalling the commencement of the deportation agreement focused on individuals lacking a valid visa. “Anyone who doesn’t have a valid visa should leave the country. This is a fundamental element of a functioning visa system,” Burke affirmed.
The deal requires Nauru to provide long-term residency for these deportees. Furthermore, the Australian government has pledged an upfront payment of $408 million to Nauru, along with annual payments of $70 million intended for the resettlement process. This agreement will come into effect upon the arrival of the first deportees in Nauru.
The arrangement has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Greens and human rights organisations, who label it as inhumane. These critics posit that the agreement strips foreign criminals of their rights and undermines principles of procedural fairness, which should govern any decisions related to deportations. In a recent parliamentary statement, Burke noted that such procedural fairness can sometimes be exploited by non-citizens to prolong their stay in Australia, thus complicating the government’s deportation efforts.
Overall, this move reflects the government’s stance on managing immigration and criminal activity, but it raises important ethical concerns surrounding the treatment of those being deported. The ongoing debate highlights the complexity of balancing national security with human rights considerations in immigration policies.