Australia spent more than $9m for each asylum seeker held on Nauru last year – so why can’t they afford to buy food?

Lead

A survey by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has found that the vast majority of asylum seekers held on Nauru by Australia say they cannot afford enough food or access clean drinking water, even as the Australian government spends record amounts on offshore detention.

The survey, conducted between February and April, involved 78 asylum seekers. Nearly all of them reported that the Australian government's fortnightly payment of $260 was not enough to cover the cost of food, drinking water, supplies, phone credit, and internet service. Many said they were skipping meals to make ends meet, and more than three quarters reported rarely having access to free, clean drinking water.

The report comes as the Australian government has invested heavily in offshore processing. According to The Guardian, the Australian government spent $971.6 million on offshore management for unauthorised maritime arrivals in the 2025-26 financial year. ABC Australia reported that the government spent nearly $900 million in the last financial year.

Most of the asylum seekers on Nauru come from Asian countries, including China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, according to both ABC and The Guardian. The Guardian's report noted that the group includes more than 100 people who have been sent to the island indefinitely.

Coverage comparison

Both ABC Australia and The Guardian — World have reported extensively on the ASRC survey, with similar findings, but with some differences in emphasis and detail.

ABC Australia's report highlights the human cost, quoting an asylum seeker, "George", as saying he eats discarded food from restaurant bins. The Guardian quotes another asylum seeker, "Rakib", saying he is at breaking point, and the conditions have made him feel it would be better if he died.

The Guardian's coverage includes specific cost details, such as the $260 fortnightly allowance and the price of a banana rising from $1.50 to around $4. ABC Australia also notes that the cost of living on Nauru is high, with fresh produce being "ridiculous."

The two sources also differ slightly on the number of asylum seekers. ABC reports that about 100 remain on the island, while The Guardian describes a group of more than 100 people.

The sources agree on the key cause: Nauru depends heavily on imported food. ABC states that Nauru relies almost entirely on imported food, with prices well above Australian supermarket levels. The Guardian reports that more than 90% of food is imported and prices fluctuate with availability and trade disruptions.

Key Claims

• Asylum seekers on Nauru say they are going hungry despite substantial Australian spending on offshore detention, as reported by ABC Australia.
• The Australian government spent $971.6 million on offshore management in the 2025-26 financial year, according to The Guardian.
• The fortnightly stipend for asylum seekers is $260, as reported by both ABC and The Guardian.
• Most asylum seekers on Nauru are from China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Nauru imports most of its food; The Guardian reports that more than 90% of food is imported, while ABC says Nauru relies almost entirely on imported food.
• The ASRC survey noted that 82% of respondents reported not having access to clean drinking water, though this figure was not unanimous across sources.

Forthcoming

Reports are based on the ASRC survey, which included interviews with 78 asylum seekers. The survey's respondents indicated they were not able to buy enough food with the current allowance, and many said they were skipping meals. The report also included accounts of the high cost of basic goods, such as vegetables, which can cost up to three times the price in Australia.

Some sources attribute the hardship to the asylum seekers' lack of work rights and the limited ability to earn money, leading to reliance on the stipend.