Nauru refugees fear the island is prolonging their detention

16:04 pm on 22 November 2017

An advocate says refugees detained by Australia on Nauru are protesting against what they perceive are the vested interests of the Pacific island nation in prolonging their detention.

Ian Rintoul says Australian detention funding is the main source of income for Nauru where he estimates about 800 refugees including about 150 children have been exiled for more than four years.

Johnny Blades spoke to Mr Rintoul who says the Nauru government has just expelled workers from the company Canstruct now running the detention centre.

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The 25 square kilometres of land which is Nauru, was devastated by phosphate mining which once made the Micronesian Nauruans the second wealthiest people per capita on earth. Photo: AFP