Abbott slams $2b costing of Nauru asylum-seeker processing re-start

TONY Abbott has slammed a $2 billion government estimate of the cost of restarting asylum-seeker processing on Nauru.

Nauru Detention Centre

TONY Abbott has slammed as "completely fanciful" a $2 billion government estimate of the cost of restarting asylum-seeker processing on Nauru.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen today released a departmental briefing on the cost of re-opening two processing centres on Nauru, saying there was a "lot of work to be done" before the facilities were up and running.

The briefing, compiled by immigration officials after a January 3-4 visit the island, says both processing centres have fallen into disrepair.

It estimates the capital cost of upgrading the facilities at about $316 million while operating costs were put at $1.6 billion over four years.

The Opposition Leader disputed the costings, casting doubt on the professionalism of the bureaucrats who compiled the briefing.

"These figures are completely fanciful," he said in Tamworth, in northern NSW.

"I think they got the same people to do those costings as did the costings for the school hall program and pink batts program."

The Department of Immigration estimate, to repair and run facilities for 750 detainees, is more than double that of an earlier departmental figure of $979 million for a larger facility that would hold 1500 people.

The briefing reveals the smaller facility, known as Topside, has no water supply, no washing facilities, no shade and no recreational facilities.

Most rooms have had electrical fittings removed.

It is also currently occupied by the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation which employs 270 workers for the rehabilitation of the phosphate fields around the island.

The larger facility, State House, is currently home to a primary school, a woman's refuge and other government agencies.

The department says there is also an "issue with water supply on the island" which would require the provision of an additional reverse osmosis treatment plant.

The briefing says the facilities could house up to 750 people after major upgrades, with each room to be shared by two people.

Mr Bowen today challenged the Coalition to come up with its own costs for the re-opening of asylum seeker processing on Nauru.

"The Opposition went to the last election promising a detention centre at Nauru in a matter of weeks after their election, if they were elected," he told ABC radio.

"They issued no costings at all, certainly no funding plan. This just adds to the Coalition's budget black hole."