NewzVille International
Australia government has defended its $1.62 billion (USD) agreement with Nauru to deport hundreds of non-citizens with criminal records over the next 30 years, according to an announcement by the Home Affairs Minister on Sunday.
The deal, signed in September, grants 30-year work visas in Nauru, a Pacific island nation of around 12,000 people.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the agreement, citing previous deaths from medical neglect and suicide among asylum seekers previously held on the island. Meanwhile, Nauru residents have expressed mixed views over integrating the deportees into local society.
The policy has reignited criticism that Australia is “dumping” refugees on small islands, particularly as there is no appeal process for denied visas—fueling human rights and legal concerns.
