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Union brands huge hike in Nauru visa fees as ‘threat to press freedom’

Chris Warren

Chris Warren

A near 4,000 per cent hike in the application fee for journalists wishing to visit the island of Nauru – from $200 to $8,000 – has been condemned by the journalism union and labelled an attempt to “deter” reporting on conditions in the Australian government’s offshore processing centre there.

News of the hike was revealed in The Global Mail, which reported the island state’s top visa officer as saying only “three or four” media visas had been granted in 2013, despite a number of reports on conditions at the processing centre appearing in Australian media over the year.

It is understood the fee for a three-month visa is non-refundable even if applications are not successful, with a spokesperson for the Nauran government telling the publication it was a “revenue raising” exercise.

Chris Warren, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) federal secretary said: “The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance recognises a fee of $8,000 would obstruct many journalists from travelling to Nauru. Using money to restrict access to a story of public interest is a threat to press freedom, which is condemned by MEAA.”

Despite this there have been accusations from refugee groups the move is an attempt by the Australian government to stop reporting of conditions for refugees sent there for processing.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul told ABC News:  “This is a very deliberate tactic to deter any journalist in going to the processing centre.

“It is an obstacle to prevent coverage. Without independent media access to Nauru and detention centres, there is no accountability to what is happening in terms of what Nauru or the Australian government’s Immigration Department is doing.”

Tourist visas cost $100.

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