Australia spent $9.6 million per person on Nauru offshore processing while giving asylum seekers $260 a fortnight

Home Affairs budget statements show Australia spent $971.6 million on offshore processing in 2025-26 for roughly 100 people on Nauru — about $9.6 million per person. Those same people receive $260 a fortnight for food, water and essentials. An ASRC survey of 78 asylum seekers found 77 cannot afford enough to eat. A basic data plan alone consumes 20% of the allowance.