Australia signs refugee deal with Nauru Saturday Aug 3,2013

Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister, has signed an agreement with Baron Waqa, President of Nauru, to send people trying to reach Australia by unauthorised asylum boats to the remote Pacific island for processing and ultimate resettlement

The tough new policy, which effectively closes Australia to refugees labelled by Australia as "boat people", was unveiled two weeks ago and initially involved Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Rudd said that families and unaccompanied children would be the focus of transfers to Nauru under the deal, which will see the tiny Pacific atoll get a significant Australian aid boost, including the rebuilding of its prison.
"Nauru is a nation with a small population. We would only expect modest numbers to ever be involved in settlement," Rudd said.
"It is clear that the only way to deal with the challenge of people smuggling is through a comprehensive regional approach."

Key points:

• Australia, Nauru strike deal that will see asylum seekers processed and refugees resettled in Nauru
• Number of refugees to be resettled in Nauru up to the country's government
• Rudd says it is a similar deal to the one struck with Papua New Guinea
• Australia to spend almost $30 million on aid in Nauru in 2013-2014