First person arrives on Nauru triggering Australia's $2.5bn deal with island nation

Australia has officially kicked off its $2.5 billion deal with Pacific island nation Nauru to process over 350 asylum seekers from New Zealand's temporary protection visa (TPV) cohort. The move comes after a man was confirmed to have arrived on the tiny island last week, triggering the first year's instalment of $408 million.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has stated that when someone's visa is cancelled, they should leave, highlighting Australia's commitment to ensuring those in its care comply with its deportation laws. However, critics argue that this policy leaves vulnerable individuals, including refugees and stateless people, at the mercy of a system shrouded in secrecy.

Under the 30-year agreement, Australia will pay Nauru $20 million annually for "settlement facilitation," while a further $70 million each year will be placed into a sovereign trust fund. This total is expected to reach over $2.5 billion by the end of the deal period.

While officials claim those sent to Nauru can live freely in the community, with no prospect of being sent to another country where they could face persecution, critics question the legitimacy and fairness of this arrangement.

Former regional processing centre handed over to Nauru may be used as temporary accommodation for those awaiting settlement. However, its current state remains unclear.

The deal's fine print also allows Australia to claw back any funds provided if Nauru fails to meet its obligations under the agreement. Meanwhile, advocates are raising concerns about individuals within the NZYQ cohort who have been redetained while waiting for deportation.

In a personal account shared with Guardian Australia, Adnan, one of those affected by this policy, expressed his despair and frustration at being returned to Nauru after years in Australian custody. His lawyer described his situation as "living in a nightmare," highlighting the human cost of Australia's migration policies.

Critics, including Human Rights Law Centre associate director Laura John, have accused the federal government of disregarding migrant and refugee rights through secrecy and lack of transparency.

I'm worried about these asylum seekers being sent to Nauru it's like they're caught in a bad situation with no clear way out. Australia's got its deportation laws, but what about those who just want a safe place to live? I get that the system needs to be fair and all, but this policy feels really harsh . I wish there was more transparency on how things are handled and if everyone's being treated equally. We should try to find a middle ground where people can feel safe and have their rights protected . It's not just about the money Australia is paying Nauru, it's about people's lives .

Life is like riding a bicycle , you never know where you're going to land! But seriously, it's tough to see people getting caught in the middle of complex migration policies that can be really hurtful and unfair .

I don't usually comment but... this whole deal with Nauru and asylum seekers from NZ is super worrying . I mean, on one hand, it's good that they're trying to help people who might be in danger, right? But the way they're doing it is just really shady. They're sending these people to a tiny island with no real infrastructure or support, and then leaving them to figure things out on their own. It's like they're throwing them into the deep end without a lifeline .

And what's up with the fine print? Australia gets to claw back money if Nauru doesn't do its job, which just seems like a way for them to get out of their commitment altogether. And what about the people who are being detained while they wait for deportation? It sounds like a real nightmare in there .

I don't think this is a fair or transparent system at all. Migrant and refugee rights should be respected, not trampled over by secrecy and bureaucracy. Can't we just try to find a better way to help people who need it?

Ugh this deal with Nauru is so shady . They're basically sending asylum seekers to a tiny island with no proper infrastructure . And what's up with the "settlement facilitation" thing? Sounds like a fancy way of saying they're just gonna sit them out .

And don't even get me started on the trust fund ... it's all like, Australia pays Nauru to do Australia's bidding . Meanwhile, Adnan and others are stuck in this limbo, living their lives like they're in a never-ending nightmare . Can we please just talk about human rights here?

I'm so tired of the Aussie gov't being all secretive and stuff ... it's time to shed some light on this whole deal . We need transparency, not silence . And what about these people's futures? Will they ever be able to build a life outside Nauru?

I'm really worried about these asylum seekers being sent to Nauru . They're just trying to escape danger and find a better life, but instead they're being forced to go back to a tiny island with no resources and limited healthcare. It's like Australia is playing a game of "send them away" without thinking about the consequences . I mean, what if they can't cope with living in Nauru? What if they get sick or hurt and nobody can help them? This policy seems super unfair to me. We need more transparency and support for these people, not just a bunch of money being thrown around . It's like our government is prioritizing dollars over human lives . I wish we could find a better way to handle asylum seekers that doesn't leave them feeling so desperate .

the whole thing feels super sketchy ... like australia's trying to just sweep its problems under the rug with nauru ... these asylum seekers are already in a super vulnerable position, and then you throw them into this mysterious system on an island that's basically been turned into some sort of refugee prison ... and don't even get me started on the sovereignty trust fund - sounds like a fancy way of saying "we're just gonna take your money and use it to settle our own conscience" ... meanwhile, adnan's story is just heartbreaking ... it's like australia's policy is all about expediency over people's lives ...

I'm so worried about these asylum seekers being sent to Nauru . It's like they're just pawns in a game, you know? Australia says it's their right to be deported back home, but what if that's not even safe for them? What if they're being forced into some kind of slavery or persecution over there? It's just not fair.

And can we talk about the fact that Nauru is basically a tiny island with limited resources and infrastructure? How are these people supposed to survive, let alone live freely in the community like officials claim? I'm all for Australia helping out Pacific nations, but this deal feels so one-sided. We need more transparency and accountability from our government.

I also feel bad for Adnan and all those others who have been sent back to Nauru after years in custody . It's just heartbreaking to think about the human cost of these policies. Can't we find a way to help people that doesn't involve sending them away to some tiny island?

omg u guys cant believe australia is doin this 2 nauru 4 $2.5 billion 2 process asylum seekers from nz 4 free its like they think ppl will just magically appear outta thin air lol naurus 30 yr deal is basically a contract 4 australia 2 cough up cash & nauru 2 host those in custody critics r right tho, its all super secretive & leaves ppl vulnerable 2 deportation 2 other countries where theyd face persecution i feel bad 4 adnan & others likin him who got redetained while waitin 4 deportation his lawyer said he was livin in a nightmare & i cant even imagine bein in his shoes

I'm feeling really uneasy about this deal between Australia & Nauru . Like, I get that there's a need to process asylum seekers, but do we REALLY need to outsource it to an island nation with not the best human rights record? It seems pretty unfair to send people back to their original country after years of living in Australia without any guarantees they won't face persecution again. And what's up with this "fine print" stuff where Australia can claw back funds if Nauru doesn't meet its obligations? That just sounds like a recipe for disaster .

And let's not forget about people like Adnan, who's been stuck in limbo for years . His situation is literally a nightmare . I'm all for Australia taking care of its own borders, but we need to make sure we're doing it in a way that doesn't leave vulnerable people hanging. Can't we just have an open and honest conversation about our migration policies instead of sweeping everything under the rug?

Ugh, this deal with Nauru is just another example of how Aussie gov't screws over people in need . I mean, who thought it was a good idea to send vulnerable asylum seekers to some tiny island in the middle of nowhere? And now they're being sent back after years of being held captive in Australia, still living in "nightmare" situations... . The gov't's all like "deport them and make 'em leave", but what about their human rights? What if they're persecuted in some other country? It's just not fair, you know? And the fine print is just a joke - if Nauru messes up, Australia gets to take back its money. Like that's gonna happen... . I swear, this gov't doesn't care about anyone but themselves.

I mean, what's the point of having a forum to discuss these kinda issues if we can't even get the info straight? Like, how many asylum seekers are actually being processed on Nauru? And what's this settlement facilitation thingy all about? Sounds like just a fancy way of saying "we're gonna mess with your life". I'm tired of reading about folks like Adnan who've been through hell and back, only to be sent back to a place where they don't even have citizenship. It's just not right . And can we please talk about the transparency? Like, seriously, if you're gonna accuse someone of disregarding human rights, shouldn't there be some actual evidence? Just saying...

The whole thing just feels so sad . Like, these people are already super vulnerable trying to find a safe haven in Australia, and then we're sending them to Nauru where things can get even more complicated? It's like, how can we expect them to feel secure when they don't know what's going on or who's in charge?

I think it's crazy that there's no real transparency about what's happening to these people. Like, what does "settlement facilitation" even mean? And why do we have this deal where Australia gets to claw back the money if Nauru doesn't follow through on its promises? It just feels like a bunch of bureaucratic red tape that's keeping people stuck in limbo.

And can you imagine having to live with the knowledge that you could be sent back to Nauru at any moment, even after years of being in Australia? That would be so stressful and terrifying. We need to do better by these people, you know? We need to find a way to make sure they're treated with dignity and respect, not just sent from one place to another like pawns in some kind of game .

I'm all for Australia taking care of its own citizens, but we can't forget that there are so many other people out there who are counting on us to be a beacon of hope and kindness. Let's try to do better, shall we?