2 Sep 2011

Hoping for nod, Nauru watching Australia asylum seeker debate

3:19 pm on 2 September 2011

Nauru says it's watching closely developments in Australia following the High Court's decision to scuttle the asylum seeker swap deal with Malaysia.

The future of Australia's plan to process applicants abroad is in doubt because of the court's judgment.

The opposition insists the ruling applies only to the Malaysian deal and argues a detention centre on Nauru, which was used by the previous government, can be reopened.

The AAP news agency reports Nauru's government spokesman Rod Henshaw as saying the country is keen to reopen the centre.

But he says Nauru hasn't heard from Canberra since the judgement.

The United Nations refugee agency says it will not be involved if Australia restarts its policy of processing asylum seekers abroad.