Returns from Australia and offshore processing centres
Contents
As at 31 January 2022, 953 people had been returned to their country of origin (both ‘voluntarily’ and involuntarily) since the beginning of offshore processing.
The Department’s monthly updates (from January 2014) show that there has been a small number of people who ‘voluntarily’ leave the offshore processing centres over time.
This graph shows the number of involuntary (forced) returns and 'voluntary' returns by nationality of those transferred to offshore processing since 19 July 2013.
This graph shows the number of people who have been 'assisted' in voluntarily returning to their country of origin. This means they were provided with assistance (including financial assistance), funded by the Australian government, to return.
This graph shows both the number of 'voluntary' returns from Papua New Guinea, and the number and outcomes of requests for transfers to regional processing country by those who transferred from Nauru or PNG to Australia.
In response to a Senate question on notice, the Department of Home Affairs provided a full breakdown for all returns ('voluntary) and removals ('involuntary) from Nauru in the time frame of September 2012 to May 2018. It also provided the same data for for returns from Manus Island. This is shown in the graph below.
Sources
Statistics provided by the Department of Home Affairs for 28 August 2019
Senate estimates questions (listed in the downloadable spreadsheet and under relevant graphs or linked to relevant text)
2013-21: Newsroom, Operation Sovereign Borders, monthly, Canberra
From January 2020, Key statistics, Department of Home Affairs, Canberra
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