An Australian academic, Helen Hughes, says Canberra's latest MOU with Nauru doesn't do anything to transform the prospects of Nauru's people.
Nauru is to receive about 27 million US dollars in aid assistance to support health, education, economic and financial management and public sector capacity-building.
The MOU is intended to ensure continuing support for Nauru after the recent closure of Canberra's detention processing camps on the island which for years helped prop up Nauru's economy.
But Professor Hughes from the think tank the Australian Centre for Independent Studies says while the amount of funds is itself sufficient, the MOU doesn't do enough in the key area:
"Education is the core problem. Unless you get those children educated so they can take jobs in New Zealand, Australia or where ever in the world, and relieve the pressure on the labour market, this is going to be an island of beggars."
Helen Hughes
