One way ticket to Naru - $10,000

Asylum seekers arrive in Nauru. Picture: Clint Deidenang Source: Supplied

A ONE-WAY ticket to indefinite detention on Nauru is costing taxpayers up to $10,000 for each asylum seeker - and the jets are flying half-empty.

Immigration officials have confirmed they are sending only 20 to 40 asylum seekers on the 737 and Airbus flights that can carry up to 120 people.

Government tender documents show the charter flights are costing taxpayers $2.8 million a month.

It comes as foreign workers, backpackers and migrants - lured by our beach lifestyle, mining jobs and even finding a spouse - face a $500 million increase to visa charges in Wayne Swan's Budget update this week.

The Department of Immigration has defended the numbers allocated to the flights on security and logistical grounds, confirming officials and interpreters are also aboard.

Transfers to Nauru began on September 14, and Senate estimates has heard evidence that 292 asylum seekers have been moved to the regional processing centre to date.

Processing centres for asylum seekers will be restarted on Nauru and Manus Island, off PNG.

Documents on the Austender website confirm for the same period charter flights totalling $2.8 million have been finalised for Nauru since September.

Department officials also told Senate estimates that Immigration has a standing order - signal-ling an expectation of $18 million in future charter contracts.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said it was a joke that the Gillard Government was refusing to allow the Coalition to inspect Nauru when empty airline seats were available.

News Limited also understands big increases are planned for visa application charges, which will net Treasury $500 million over the forward estimates.

Mining jobs that are responsible for a dramatic increase in 457 visas to allow foreign workers to fill skills shortages will face visa increases of $100 per visa to $450.

The Government is also expected to revise down revenue forecasts for the mining tax, which is set to reignite debate that Julia Gillard watered down Kevin Rudd's original tax plan too much.

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