On Monday, the Nauruan Government announced that the claims of all remaining asylum seekers would be processed by Sunday 11 October. In addition, asylum seekers will now be able to move freely about the island, with the detention facility relabeled as an ‘open centre’. Critics argued that the announcement is designed to undermine the constitutional challenge to offshore detention that is currently being heard in the High Court of Australia.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced that Australia and the Philippines are negotiating a plan for the resettlement of refugees currently being held on Manus Island. The deal will be similar to a resettlement arrangement negotiated with Cambodia earlier this year. The Cambodia deal cost Australia $55 million and has led to the voluntary resettlement of four refugees. The Australian newspaper reports that the Philippines deal would cost $150 million.
On Friday, Minister Dutton implied that an asylum seeker who was allegedly raped on Nauru would be brought to Australia for an abortion if recommended by medical staff.
On Sunday, the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne held a protest against discharging children back in to detention. The President of the Australian Medical Association supported the protest.
Asylum Seeker Mohammed Albederee marked six months since beginning a hunger strike.