Labor and Coalition pass deportation laws set to make Nauru a ‘penal colony’ for Australia, critics say

Legislation validates flawed decisions, cuts off appeals and gives government sweeping powers to deport people, campaigners claim

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The major parties have been accused of “stitching up” a deal to transform Nauru into Australia’s “dumping ground and penal colony” as parliament passed laws stripping basic legal rights from a group of noncitizens set to be deported.

The home affairs legislation passed the Senate on Thursday, after a snap three-hour parliamentary hearing the night before.