Australia’s $400 million deal with Nauru to deport people to the atoll nation is under scrutiny. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)

By Tess Ikonomou and Dominic Giannini in Canberra

Australian taxpayers will be slugged $2.5 billion over 30 years to deport hundreds of former immigration detainees to Nauru under a “secret” deal.

The Albanese government signed a memorandum of understanding with Nauru, offering more than $400 million upfront and then $70 million each year.

The agreement will allow Australia to transfer up to 354 former detainees, including convicted criminals, to the tiny Pacific island which has a population of about 12,000.

Immigration officials were grilled during a late-night parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, reluctantly confirming the massive cost of the deal.

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