First deportation under multi-billion dollar Nauru deal a dark new chapter for Australia

First Deportation Under Multi-Billion Dollar Nauru Deal Marks a Dark Chapter for Australia

Human rights organisations have strongly criticized the Albanese Government’s first deportation to Nauru under its secretive offshore arrangement, calling it a shameful violation of Australia’s core values of fairness, equality, and justice.

This event marks the initial known deportation under the Government’s recently expanded Nauru policy, a confidential and costly deal enabling offshore removals of people seeking asylum.

Official Confirmation of Deportation

Earlier reports indicated that Nauru’s President, David Adeang, announced to the Nauruan Parliament last Friday the arrival of the first individual transferred under the new offshore detention agreement.

Concerns from Support Organisations

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, an organisation supporting asylum seekers detained on Nauru, had received reports of the arrival but could not verify or contact the individual. The group expressed deep worries about the person’s wellbeing, safety, and current location.

The Secretive Nature of the Deal

The Albanese Government negotiated a confidential agreement with Nauru to transfer migrants and refugees from the so-called NZYQ cohort. This deal coincides with new legislation allowing deportations without assessing the severe risks involved, including potential fatality from lack of medical care, forced family separation, or persecution in Nauru.

"The deal was signed alongside new laws allowing deportations to occur without any consideration of the consequences people would face, such as whether a person might die without proper medical care, be permanently separated from their families, or face persecution in Nauru."

Author’s summary: The Albanese Government’s first deportation to Nauru under a secret, costly deal raises serious human rights concerns and highlights risks ignored by new legislation.

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Refugee Council of Australia Refugee Council of Australia — 2025-11-06

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