Why does Australia make asylum seekers stay in Nauru rather than allowing them to come the mainland?

The Australian government's policy of sending asylum seekers to Nauru is based on several reasons:

Border protection: The Australian government argues that offshore detention is necessary to deter asylum seekers from attempting to reach Australia by boat. They claim that the policy discourages people smugglers from organizing boat journeys and reduces the number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia.

Preventing loss of life: The government also argues that offshore processing helps prevent the loss of life at sea. They contend that by intercepting asylum seekers at sea and sending them to Nauru, they are reducing the risk of deaths on dangerous boat journeys.

Encouraging voluntary repatriation: The Australian government believes that offshore processing encourages asylum seekers to voluntarily return to their home countries or to seek resettlement in a third country. They assert that the conditions in Nauru are designed to be uncomfortable, in order to disincentivize asylum seekers from remaining there indefinitely.

Reducing the burden on mainland resources: By keeping asylum seekers in Nauru, the Australian government argues that it is reducing the pressure on its domestic resources, such as housing, healthcare, and education. They claim that this is necessary to ensure the sustainability of Australia's asylum seeker program.

However, there are many critics of Australia's offshore detention policy, including human rights organizations and refugee advocates. They argue that the policy is cruel and inhumane, and that it causes significant mental and physical harm to asylum seekers. They also contend that offshore detention violates Australia's international legal obligations under the Refugee Convention.