Morning mail: the cost of Nauru regime, Russia sends troops to Ukraine, powerful sick notes

Monday: Australia’s offshore processing system on Nauru will cost taxpayers nearly $220m over the next six months. Plus: can a sick note make you better?

Good morning. Australia’s offshore processing regime on Nauru will cost taxpayers nearly $220m over the next six months. Russia has sent troops close to Ukraine’s borders. And Google warns that an upcoming Australian court ruling could have “devastating impacts” on the internet.

Australia’s offshore processing regime on Nauru will cost taxpayers nearly $220m over the next six months as it holds 107 people on the Pacific island. Brisbane firm Canstruct International has been awarded a new extension – its eighth non-competitive contract extension – for $218.5m to provide six months of “garrison and welfare services” on Nauru. The company’s total revenue from island contracts over the past five years now totals more than $1.8bn. It currently costs Australian taxpayers more than $4m a year to hold one person within the Nauru offshore regime – a little over $11,000 per person per day.