Australian Activists Protest New Nauru Deportation Laws Amidst Multi-Billion Dollar Deal

New Deportation Laws Spark Widespread Protests

Anti-racist activists and human rights advocates across Australia have voiced strong opposition to new immigration laws, passed by the Australian Parliament on September 4, 2025, that enable the expedited deportation of non-citizens to the Pacific island nation of Nauru. The legislation follows a significant 30-year agreement between Australia and Nauru, signed on August 29, 2025, valued at an estimated A$2.5 billion.

A 'Unite Against Racism' rally, initiated by the Refugee Action Collective, took place on September 26, 2025, starting at the State Library in Melbourne before proceeding through the city streets. Similar protests and counter-rallies were reported in other major Australian cities, including Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, and Newcastle, around late August and early September 2025.

Details of the Australia-Nauru Agreement

Under the terms of the new deal, Australia has committed an upfront payment of A$400 million to Nauru, followed by annual payments of A$70 million, to host up to 350 deportees. This arrangement is primarily aimed at the 'NZYQ cohort,' a group of non-citizens who were released from indefinite immigration detention in November 2023 after an Australian High Court ruling deemed their continued detention unlawful. Many in this group had their visas cancelled on character grounds.

The new laws have been criticized for removing procedural fairness for those facing deportation, thereby limiting their ability to appeal through the courts. Human rights organizations, including the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, have expressed deep concern that the legislation could allow deportations without adequate consideration of potential risks, such as death, torture, or lack of critical medical care in the receiving country.

Historical Context and International Scrutiny

Australia's policy of offshore processing in Nauru has a long and controversial history, having been in use intermittently since 2001. It forms a core component of 'Operation Sovereign Borders,' a military-led initiative designed to deter asylum seekers arriving by boat. The policy has consistently drawn criticism from international bodies and human rights advocates.

In a significant development earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled on January 9, 2025, that Australia retains responsibility for asylum seekers transferred to Nauru. The committee highlighted concerns about arbitrary detention and human rights violations, stating that 'a State Party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state.' This ruling has intensified calls from organizations like Amnesty International Australia for the evacuation of individuals from Nauru and the permanent closure of the offshore processing center.

Government's Stance and Activist Demands

The centre-left government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the new laws, asserting their necessity for maintaining the integrity of Australia's migration system and preventing what it describes as the abuse of legal processes. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was instrumental in signing the deal with Nauru.

However, activists and opposition figures, including Greens Senator David Shoebridge and NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, have condemned the agreement as 'draconian,' a 'human rights disaster,' and an attempt to turn Nauru into Australia's 'dumping ground and penal colony.' Protesters demand an end to offshore processing, greater transparency regarding the Nauru deal, and the upholding of international human rights obligations for all asylum seekers and non-citizens.