Australia spent more than $9m for each asylum seeker held on Nauru last year – so why can’t they afford to buy food?
Summary
The Australian government is spending over $9 million each year for every asylum seeker held on Nauru, a small Pacific island where refugees face high costs for food and water. Despite receiving a government allowance of $260 every two weeks, most asylum seekers say it is not enough to cover basic needs, and many report skipping meals or struggling to buy food.Key Facts
- Around 100 asylum seekers are held indefinitely on Nauru while their claims are processed.
- The Australian government spent about $971.6 million on offshore management for unauthorized arrivals in 2025-26.
- This spending equals roughly $9.6 million per person each year.
- Asylum seekers receive $260 every two weeks to cover food, water, phone, and internet.
- Food prices on Nauru are very high; some vegetables cost up to three times more than in Australia.
- Many asylum seekers report not having enough money for basic food and say they have to skip meals.
- The cost for mobile data alone can use up about 20% of the allowance.
- Refugees on Nauru are not allowed to work and must wait for other countries to agree to resettle them.
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