By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia on Thursday passed a law allowing faster deportation of non-citizens to third countries, paving the way to send hundreds of refugees denied visas because of criminal convictions to the tiny Pacific island of Nauru.

Under a 30-year deal signed with Nauru last Friday, Australia has agreed to pay A$2.5 billion ($1.62 billion) to host up to 350 deportees, with an upfront A$400 million to establish an endowment fund for the resettlement scheme, plus A$70 million annually.

On Nauru, population 12,000, business owners and community workers who spoke to Reuters by telephone said they had mixed feelings about several hundred people with criminal records being resettled on the 21 square km (eight square miles) island which has poor health facilities a

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