Deal with Nauru welcomed

The Albanese government’s deal with Nauru to resettle three violent offenders, members of the infamous NZYQ cohort released under a 2023 High Court ruling, raises important questions.

Why only three? Why has it taken so long? How much will it cost?

The 2023 ruling found that holding non-citizens in indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, triggering the release of at least 140 detainees, some with violent criminal pasts. But as a result of the agreement with Nauru, which provides the former detainees with 30-year visas, three of the group have had their Australian bridging visas immediately cancelled.

In November, we reported that 65 of 215 former detainees released under and subsequent to the NZYQ ruling had since been charged with fresh state and territory offences.

Of the 215 individuals, 12 had previously been convicted of murder or attempted murder, 66 convicted of sex offences including child sex offences, 97 of assault-related offences, 15 of domestic violence, 15 of serious drug offences, and five convicted of people-smuggling.

As the Albanese government, especially former immigration minister Andrew Giles, was ill-prepared for the effects of the High Court ruling and moved too slowly afterwards, the agreement with Nauru could help provide protection for Australians from violent offenders. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is probably correct in expecting the reform to be challenged in the courts. But he is confident the legislation will withstand any attempt to unravel it.

“We will go in there with a very strong position as a commonwealth dealing exactly with the legislation that the parliament passed to be able to send people to third countries,” Mr Burke said on Sunday.

In the final sitting week last year, Labor struck a deal with the Coalition to pass new laws that enable the government to ­deport foreigners with no right to remain in Australia.

Most Australians would agree with that position, which the government hopes will stand it in good stead if the behaviour of former NZYQ detainees becomes an issue in the election campaign.

Few readers will have forgotten the bloodied, swollen face of Ninette Simons, 73, pictured prominently in The Australian, after she was allegedly bashed at the hands of a freed immigration detainee during a home invasion of her Perth home in April, while her husband was tied up.

It was a wake-up call.

If Mr Burke can build on the deal to send detainees to Nauru by extending the number, the community will be safer as a result.