Migration Alliance members might be interested to learn that His Excellency Baron Waqa MP, President of Nauru and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding relating to the transfer of people to Nauru, assessment of their claims and other issues in relation to the transfer of people to Nauru.

The release has been made via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website and is dated 12 August 2013.  The details available on the DFAT website are things such as a peamble, interpretations, objectives to combat people smuggling. 

People who will be transferred to Nauru for processing have travelled irregularly by sea to Australia (normally called irregular maritime arrivals - IMAs), or have been intercepted by Australian authorities in the course of trying to reach Australia by irregular maritime means.  They must then be authorised by Australian law to be transferred to Nauru and must have undergone short health, security and identity checks in Australia.