SYDNEY: Australia on Sunday (Oct 19) defended a A$2.5 billion (US$1.62 billion) deal to deport hundreds of non-citizens to the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru over the next 30 years, a plan criticised by human rights groups.
Australia's centre-left Labour government in September signed the deal with Nauru to resettle people denied refugee visas because of criminal convictions, reviving claims that Australia was "dumping" refugees in small island states.
