The opposition immigration spokesman in Australia, Scott Morrison, says thousands of asylum seekers will be housed on Nauru in a tent city for up to five years if a coalition government were to win power in Australia.
The Australian newspaper reports at least 2000 people would be sent to a new camp but thousands more would be located elsewhere, with no guarantee of final settlement in Australia.
The paper describes the plan as a cheap alternative to the Labor government's proposed Manus Island resettlement program.
The news comes as the Labor government prepares to send about 40 single men from Christmas Island to Manus Island.
They are among the first people to arrive in Australian waters since prime minister Kevin Rudd announced his Manus Island proposal on the 19th of July.
Scott Morrison said during a tour of potential sites on Nauru that the island could take around 5000 asylum-seekers over time, in tents and other permanent facilities.
Mr Morrison said some asylum-seekers may end up in Australia, but with "no guarantee" and many could be resettled in countries such as Canada or New Zealand.
