A second plane load of asylum seekers is settling in to Nauru after touching down this morning.

Their arrival came as defence deployed 25 people to start work on rebuilding the processing facility on Manus Island.

Jo Curlis reports.

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The Nauru government says the plane contained 36 Sri Lankan men and the transfer went smoothly.

The Opposition says reopening Nauru was meant to deter people making the sea voyage from Indonesia but in the last three days, three boats were intercepted in Australian waters.

Scott Morrison, Shadow Immigration Minister: “The boats keep coming from Indonesia yet no-one who’s come on a boat from Indonesia has been sent to Nauru.”

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says a broad cross section of people will be transferred to Nauru.

He says it’ll show people smugglers the policy is up and running.

Jo Curlis, QUT News.