Australia signs deal with Nauru to keep asylum seeker detention centre open indefinitely

Deal creates enduring form' of offshore processing, sparking criticism from refugees previously detained there

Australia will continue its policy of offshore processing of asylum seekers indefinitely, with the home affairs minister signing a new agreement with Nauru to maintain a detention centre on the island state.

Since 2012 - in the second iteration of the policy - all asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat seeking protection have faced mandatory indefinite detention and processing offshore.