First families transferred to Nauru under the Australia’s regional settlement arrangement

Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship has confirmed the first transfer of family groups under the Regional Settlement Arrangement (RSA) to the regional processing centre in Nauru.

The group, which includes 14 adults and 12 children landed in Nauru earlier today where they will be accommodated while their claims are processed by the Nauru Government. Appropriate accommodation is in place at a separate site to other cohorts residing in Nauru.

A spokesman for the department said the first transfer of a family group under the RSA confirmed that everyone who arrives after July 19 will be transferred to a regional processing centre once health checks are complete, and appropriate accommodation and service are available.

“This latest transfer to Nauru sends the clearest possible message that coming to Australia by boat is not the way to gain Australian residency, and children or family groups will not be exempted from transfer,” the Immigration Department spokesman said.

“Exempting them would simply encourage people smugglers to put children on boats to Australia.”

Under the RSA, anyone – including unaccompanied minors – who seeks to bypass proper migration pathways and instead pay people smugglers for a boat trip to Australia, will be liable for transfer to a regional processing country.

The spokesman said there is no cap on the number of people who can be transferred to a regional processing centre and transfers will continue on a regular basis.

“If people are paying thousands and thousands of dollars to a people smuggler, they are buying a ticket to a country other than Australia. Coming to Australia by boat is not the way to gain Australian residency.”

Media Enquiries:
Ray Marcelo, Counsellor, (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob 0811 187 3175