Legal aid denied to offshore detainees

An article in smh.com.au reports that Australia will not fund the legal defence of asylum seekers charged with crimes in Nauru or Manus Island detention centres, the department of immigration has confirmed.

Since August 13, when the policy came into effect, more than 16,000 people have made the journey by boat.

The government reopened the Nauru and Manus Island processing centres as part of its "no-advantage" policy designed to deter asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat.

While the government will help asylum seekers detained on Nauru with their claims for protection under a memorandum of understanding with the island nation, it will not help people charged with crimes under Nauru's domestic laws while they are detained on Australia's behalf.

Concerns have been raised about the plight of 10 asylum seekers on Nauru charged with rioting and wilful damage in relation to an alleged riot at the Nauru processing centre in November.

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