Nauru offshore processing to cost Australian taxpayers $485m despite only 22 asylum seekers remaining

Australian officials expect that in the next year no refugees and asylum seekers will remain on Nauru, pictured, but maintaining facilities for offshore processing will cost at least $350m a year. Photograph: Rémi Chauvin/The Guardian

Offshore processing on Nauru will cost Australia $485m this year, despite the fact there are just 22 refugees and asylum seekers left at the Pacific Island’s regional processing centre.

Department of Home Affairs officials revealed the new figures at a Senate estimates hearing on Monday evening, but disputed suggestions from the Greens this amounted to a cost of $22m a person.