$8m spent so far on failed Cambodian deal

The federal government has spent close to $8 million out of the $55 million allocated for its unsuccessful refugee resettlement deal with Cambodia.

Only five refugees have accepted the offer of resettlement and of those, three have returned to their country of origin.

The immigration department told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday night that $2.71 million has been spent on resettlement costs out of the $15 million budgeted.

Cambodia has received close to $5 million of the $40 million aid sweetener promised under the deal.