Agencies Sydney

Australia has started to deport foreign detainees to Nauru, marking the start of a controversial deal with the tiny Pacific island nation. In a statement on Tuesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that "the first transfer had occurred" last Friday, although how many people were deported is unknown.

The deal was struck after Australia's top court ruled that it could not indefinitely detain about 358 people, the bulk of whom have been convicted of crimes, forcing their release into the community. Human rights groups have criticised the deal, which is expected to cost $1.23bn, as per BBC. The Australian government has repeatedly refused to release details of the agreement for the so-called NZYQ cohort, and refugee advocates says it goes against the country's human rights obligations.