World Immigration News

(JURIST news )Australia’s offshore detention program unlawful and cost-inefficient, HRW says

Release Date: 2026-03-02
Media: JURIST news
Summary: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Australia’s offshore detention and resettlement program as both cost-inefficient and potentially in violation of international law, urging the government to invest in community-based alternatives instead.

In a submission to the Australian Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, HRW described offshore processing as a form of “externalization,” whereby wealthier countries shift responsibility for asylum seekers to transit or third countries. HRW noted that the program costs Australia more than A$1 billion annually, with an estimated A$5.6 million per person spent in 2024–2025 to house asylum seekers on Nauru, compared to roughly A$3,962 per year for individuals living in Australia on bridging visas while their claims are processed.

HRW also highlighted concerns about human rights violations. The UN Committee against Torture previously found that Australia’s offshore detention practices breached its obligations under the Convention against Torture, including in a case involving an Iranian asylum seeker allegedly tortured in Papua New Guinea. The UN Human Rights Committee likewise ruled that Australia violated international law by subjecting 24 unaccompanied minors transferred to Nauru to arbitrary detention and harmful living conditions.

Overall, HRW argues that Australia’s offshore detention system is costly, harmful, and inconsistent with its international legal obligations.
Tags: Australia

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