Australia’s definitely-not-secret deal with Nauru has begun

2025-11-01

Back in 2023, Australia’s top court made a landmark ruling: it was against the law for the Australian government to indefinitely hold people in immigration detention. That ruling had massive implications for our country’s border policies. It overturned 20 years of precedent – and it led to the release of people into the community who had been held in immigration detention after having their visas cancelled – but weren’t able to return to their home country. After that, the Albanese government struck a controversial deal with Nauru, worth $2....

Back in 2023, Australia’s top court made a landmark ruling: it was against the law for the Australian government to indefinitely hold people in immigration detention.

That ruling had massive implications for our country’s border policies. It overturned 20 years of precedent – and it led to the release of people into the community who had been held in immigration detention after having their visas cancelled – but weren’t able to return to their home country.

After that, the Albanese government struck a controversial deal with Nauru, worth $2.5 billion. The tiny island nation would be paid to settle the detainees in exchange for money over a 30-year period.

This week we learned the deal has now begun – at least one person has now been deported to Nauru.

Today, journalist Denham Sadler, on the former immigration detainees Australia is now deporting – and whether offloading them to Nauru is a breach of our legal obligations.

This episode was first published in September.

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Guest: Journalist, Denham Sadler

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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