$3m bill to send asylum seekers home

Almost $3 million of taxpayers' money has been spent to encourage about 1110 asylum seekers to return to the countries they fled.

More than 770 Iranian asylum seekers went back to Iran after being given "reintegration assistance", under the same deal which led to the return of 102 Iraqis and 102 Sri Lankans, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said.

About 30 people went back to India, 21 to Lebanon, 87 to Vietnam and 34 to "other" countries, according to immigration department figures obtained under a freedom of information request.

Of those sent back to their country of origin, 427 were on bridging visas, 339 chose to leave Australia and 375 were dispatched from offshore processing centres on Nauru and Manus island.

The ALA said 54 asylum seekers weren't paid anything to leave.

"$3 million have been spent to send these vulnerable asylum seekers back to their country of origin despite the real threat many of them face to their safety," ALA spokesman Greg Barns said in a statement.

"How many of those people will live to spend the meagre assistance provided to them by the Australian government is yet to be seen."

Most of the asylum seekers were returned to Iraq, Iran and Sri Lanka, according to immigration department figures.

Further information is being sought from Mr Barns.