Mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers had cost almost $9.6 billion since 2013 and would cost a further $5.7 billion over the next four years, a new report says.
The report, by Save The Children Australia and UNICEF Australia and titled "At What Cost," says the estimated economic cost combines the costs of offshore and onshore detention, boat turnbacks and the unsuccessful plan to resettle refugees in Cambodia.
But that's not the full cost. It doesn't capture the many inquiries and reviews into the system or defence of legal challenges.
"Australia's immigration policies are expensive, inhumane and blunt."
The report says offshore processing in Nauru and PNG cost $400,000 per asylum seeker per year, while onshore detention cost $240,000. However, bridging visas and community detention cost from $33,000 to $90,000 a year.
Save The Children Australia chief executive Paul Ronalds said the report confirmed that the current asylum seeker framework was neither humane nor economically sustainable and should not be a model for other nations.
"Australia's immigration policies are expensive, inhumane and blunt," he said in a statement.
Mr Ronalds said it would be hard for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to mount a credible argument that Australia was a compassionate and constructive player in the global refugee and migrant crisis.
"In less than a week, the prime minister will fly out for the United Nations General Assembly meeting where the world will attempt to address the massive refugee crisis before it," he said.
Nicole Breeze, UNICEF Australia policy director, said the report highlighted the failings of policies adopted by successive Australian Governments.
"It's time to replace deterrence with mutual commitment and co-operation with partners across our region," she said.
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