Nauru President David Adeang paid an unscheduled call on Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, late Tuesday afternoon. He surprised everyone by showing up around 3 PM. This very short and unannounced visit was just half an hour long and overlapped with a Pacific Security College suburban home dinner. The trip has already sparked much controversy. It has further cast doubt over the transparency of Australia’s operations with Nauru, as highlighted by the recent claims that a security contract is tied to the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang.
Not announcing Adeang’s visit whatsoever, the Australian government left itself open to questions about the nature of the discussions that occurred. The augural cohort of the NZYQ were dispatched to Nauru less than two weeks before this meeting. This action comes after a secretive, controversial deal brokered between Australia and Nauru to resettle refugees. Under the terms of this agreement, Australia will pay Nauru $408 million upon the arrival of the first deportee. Furthermore, Australia will pay up to $70 million annually over the next 30 years, based on the number of refugees sent to the island nation.
Secrecy Surrounding the Visit
Public education about Adeang’s visit is non-existent and that has led to criticism. Civil society organizations and political leaders are some of the most vocal detractors. Critics point out the extreme secrecy surrounding this meeting. They argue it points to a bigger issue of a lack of transparency in how the current administration operates.
Senator Duniam remarked, “It is bizarre to have a head of state from one of our closest neighbours visit without any prior notice or proper diplomatic protocol. It is incumbent upon the prime minister to answer why he sought to keep this meeting hidden from the Australian public. Even politicians are starting to get frustrated. They think that fundamental changes to Australia’s immigration policy are being done in secret.”
Ogy Simic from Earth Team Action brought up the issue of transparency. “When the Australian government is sneaking in a foreign president into the halls of parliament house, people deserve to know what is being talked about and what is going on,” he stated.
It did serve to raise the prospect that this newly established agreement, which includes the NZYQ cohort, could become complicated. Senator Duniam emphasized that “after months of secrecy, this unannounced meeting raises questions about whether there may already be problems with the 30-year, multi-billion dollar secretive agreement that was recently struck with the Nauruan Government.”
Controversial Security Contracts
There are allegations that the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has taken over operations on Nauru. This announcement comes on the heels of increasing scrutiny over Australia’s close ties with the island nation. According to news reports, this gang received a taxpayer-funded contract to deliver security services for the same former detainees they were allegedly abusing. Historic civil rights organizations and political leaders are rightly shaken by these moves. They contend that Australia’s immigration regime is spiraling out of control.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized the government’s approach, stating, “Australia has obligations to people who come here seeking safety and protection, but is using Nauru as a prison island and thinking we can just pay to dump people there. It’s pretty barbaric.” This short sentence captures a far deeper worry about how Australia controls its immigration system, and its unforgiving approach to asylum seekers.
This security contract should be a huge red flag and raise serious questions. Thus, the question now becomes how well can Nauru provide safety and stability for those it has agreed to resettle on the island. Civil Society groups are starting to speak out on these issues for more accountability. They require more visibility into how contracts are procured and administered.
Government’s Response and Future Implications
These revelations prompted a backlash, not just on Adeang’s visit but on the whole issue. As they urged, now more than ever, it is essential that they strengthen relationships with our Pacific neighbors. Tony Burke, a government representative, stated, “I had a productive meeting with Nauru’s President Adeang today in Canberra — the relationship between our countries is critical on a range of issues.”
Many remain unconvinced. Fostering open procurement Andrew Wallace told us how he got hooked on government transparency while working for the current administration. “There must be transparency, and transparency is something that this government is totally devoid of,” he asserted.
Even Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged that there was a bit of stench around these issues. He acknowledged these challenges were present long before his administration started. He stated, “The minister will respond to that, but I note that those issues, as I read them, come from a period before we were in government.”
While government officials continue to defend their position and relationships with Pacific nations, ongoing criticism highlights a significant divide between public expectations for transparency and current governmental practices.
