Sat Aug 30 16:22:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text, written from an Indian perspective, suitable for “The Hindu”:

**Summary:**

Australia has struck a deal with Nauru to send over 220 immigrants, some with criminal convictions, to the Pacific island nation. In exchange, Australia will provide Nauru with significant financial aid, including an initial Aus $408 million and subsequent annual payments of Aus $70 million. This agreement aims to address Australia’s problem of dealing with immigrants whose visas have been cancelled and cannot be deported elsewhere, a situation deemed unlawful by the High Court in 2023. The deal also gives Australia veto power on pacts with third countries including China, raising geostrategic implications. The news highlights Nauru’s economic and environmental vulnerabilities as it takes on this responsibility.

**News Article:**

**Australia Outsourcing Immigration Challenges to Nauru in Controversial Deal**

**Sydney, August 30, 2025:** Australia has announced a controversial agreement with the Republic of Nauru, a small Pacific island nation, to house over 220 immigrants currently residing in Australia, some of whom have been convicted of serious crimes. The deal, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, aims to resolve Australia’s predicament of dealing with immigrants whose visas have been revoked, leaving them with no legal right to remain.

Under the agreement, Australia will provide Nauru with a substantial financial package, including an initial payment of Aus $408 million (approximately $267 million USD) followed by annual payments of around Aus $70 million. The funding is intended to support Nauru’s infrastructure and long-term economic stability.

“Anyone who doesn’t have a valid visa should leave the country,” stated Minister Burke, emphasizing the importance of a functioning visa system.

The move comes after a 2023 High Court ruling deemed indefinite detention unlawful if deportation was not an option, leading to the release of 220 individuals. The number of immigrants in this situation has since grown to over 350.

The agreement also grants Australia a veto right over a range of pacts with third nations including China, raising geostrategic implications.

Nauru, with a population of just 12,500, is one of the world’s smallest countries and faces significant environmental and economic challenges. Decades of phosphate mining have rendered a large portion of the island uninhabitable, and the nation is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. While phosphate deposits once made Nauru one of the wealthiest countries per capita, those reserves have long been depleted.

The deal is likely to draw criticism from human rights organizations, raising concerns about the treatment of immigrants on the island nation. This arrangement mirrors past policies of sending asylum seekers to offshore processing centers, which have been widely condemned for their harsh conditions. The long-term implications of this agreement for Nauru and the individuals transferred remain to be seen.

Read More