18 Jun 2021

Bizarre development sees refugees returning to Nauru

From Pacific Waves

In a bizarre development, Australia is encouraging refugees who struggled for years in offshore detention camps before coming to Australia to return to the Pacific

The Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul says a number of refugees are taking up the government's offer for a return to Nauru. 

Their other option is to remain in detention in Australia

Mr Rintoul says there are about 90 people, who had been taken to Australia from both Papua New Guinea and Nauru for health reasons.

But he told Don Wiseman that Australia's government has violated the spirit of legislation that enabled refugees to be medivacked from the Pacific.

The refugees at Nauru's airport.

The refugees at Nauru's airport. Photo: Ian Rintoul

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