Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has weighed in on a spat between Nauru's government and three of the island nation's opposition MPs who have been suspended from parliament.
Ms Bishop is urging the Nauru government to uphold the fundamental values of a robust democracy including freedom of speech.
"Parliamentarians are encouraged to engage in robust political debate for it is the contest of ideas that underpins democracy," she said in a statement on Friday.
This week Nauru's former foreign minister Kieren Keke, Mathew Batsiua and Roland Kun were banned until they deliver a written apology to the legislature for talking to foreign journalists.
The MPs have been critical of Nauru's decision to expel its chief justice, Australian Geoffrey Eames and dismiss its only magistrate, Peter Law, who is also Australian.
President Baron Waqa said the opposition was behaving badly as part of a campaign to "regain power through stealth" and accused the MPs of damaging a sound system, smashing a wall of the chamber and swearing at the Speaker.
Mr Kun says the government's suspension motion doesn't comply with standing orders of parliament.
"This is just another move by the government to gag the opposition and scrutiny of their actions," he told the ABC.
His Australian wife, Katy Le Roy, has had her visa revoked, and was dismissed as Nauru's parliamentary counsel.
The family has moved to New Zealand and Mr Kun plans to travel back to Nauru for parliamentary sittings.
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