By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA)—Australia on Thursday passed a law that would allow the deportation of hundreds of non-citizens to the small Pacific nation of Nauru, local broadcaster SBS reported.
Under a 30-year deal signed last week, Australia will pay 2.5 billion Australian dollars (about $1.62 billion) to send deportees to the small Pacific Island. This includes an upfront 408 million Australian dollars to create a resettlement fund, plus 70 million Australian dollars each year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
According to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, he flew to Nauru last Friday to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nauru President David Adeang, although the contents of the document have not been made public.
The agreement targets 354 foreign-born criminals released into the community after the High Court ruled that they could not be held in detention indefinitely.
“It’s important, for this arrangement to succeed, that people are moved over there in a planned and steady way,” said Clare Sharp, head of immigration under the Department of Home Affairs.
“The purpose is that people will move to Nauru, they will become long-term residents, and they will become part of their community.” Sharp added, noting that the program could begin “in the coming weeks” but didn’t give exact dates.