THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
  SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING

JULIAN LEESER MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BEROWRA

JOINT STATEMENT
NAURU DEAL COULD COST AUSTRALIA OVER $2.5 BILLION

Thursday, 4 September 2025

Australia could pay Nauru up to $2.5 billion over 30-years to take members of the criminal NZYQ cohort.

A Senate inquiry last night revealed that $20 million will be paid when the first former detainee sets foot on Nauru, while $388 million will be put into a trust investment account with all of the interest going to Nauru – potentially adding billions of dollars more to what Nauru will receive.

Australian taxpayers will also pay $70 million every year over the life of 30-year agreement, starting in year two.

Officials from the Department of Home Affairs also revealed that Nauru can pick who they will take from the NZYQ cohort, and in fact do not have to take anyone at all.

To get the $2.5 billion over 30 years Nauru will be required to take a minimum number of the cohort, with that number yet to be agreed to.

The Bill that was the subject of the Senate inquiry speeds up the removal of the NZYQ cohort from Australia by addressing legal tactics being used to delay departure.

But the Bill does absolutely nothing to take any of the 354 dangerous criminals in the NZYQ cohort – including murderers, rapists, and paedophiles – off our streets.

Even with this legislation in place, it is unlikely all of the NZYQ cohort will be removed from Australia.

The Coalition urges the Government to make amendments to the legislation to fix Labor’s preventative detention regime and close the loopholes in mandatory detention, to help take more dangerous criminals off our streets more quickly.

If the Government refuses, the Coalition will once again put forward sensible amendments to strengthen the Government’s legislation and keep Australians safe.

[ENDS]