Nauru offshore processing to cost Australian taxpayers $485m despite only 22 asylum seekers remaining

Home affairs department officials dispute suggestions this year’s cost amounts to $22m a person

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Offshore processing on Nauru will cost Australia $485m this year, despite the fact there are just 22 refugees and asylum seekers left at the Pacific Island’s regional processing centre.

Department of Home Affairs officials revealed the new figures at a Senate estimates hearing on Monday evening, but disputed suggestions from the Greens this amounted to a cost of $22m a person.

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