First person arrives on Nauru triggering Australia’s $2.5bn deal with island nation

<p>Deal between federal government and Nauru expected to last 30 years and apply to around 350 people released under high court’s NZYQ ruling</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/oct/28/federal-parliament-algae-report-senate-social-media-age-assurance-labor-coalition-anthony-albanese-sussan-ley-barnaby-joyce-telco-penalties-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Australia has commenced its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/03/nzyq-cohort-potentially-hostile-reception-nauru">$2.5bn deal with Nauru</a> to offload more than 350 people from the NZYQ cohort after the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the first arrival had landed on the tiny Pacific island last week.</p><p>Burke said Nauruan authorities had confirmed the arrival on Friday, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-28/first-nzyq-member-deported-to-nauru/105919846">as reported by the ABC</a>, triggering the first yearly instalment of $408m.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/28/nauru-australia-deal-payment-as-first-man-arrives-nzyq">Continue reading...</a>