Australia's silence over Nauru 'pathetic' - former CJ

Nauru's former chief justice says Australia's response to the democratic crisis in Nauru has been "pathetic".

Geoffrey Eames had his visa cancelled while out of the country early last year and was sacked from his position.

Since then, opposition MPs have been suspended for speaking out and three were charged for participating in a peaceful protest in June that the government claims was a violent protest.

Mr Eames says there's an iron curtain effectively around Nauru and Australia has not done enough.

"The Australian government response has been pathetically weak. There was no sound at all, complete silence. Right from the start the Australian government should have said right this is simply no way for a democratic society to perform and made its position loud and clear."

Mr Eames says he feels for the current Chief Justice as he prepares to preside over criminal and civil hearings involving the opposition MPs and the government.