The government of Nauru has passed amendments to the country's passport laws giving the Border Protection minister greater powers to cancel travel documents.

Under the new legislation, the minister can act if he considers there are reasonable grounds that a person may engage in conduct that damages Nauru's national or economic security.

The right of appeal to the Supreme Court has been scrapped, and instead anyone who is barred from travelling must put their case directly to the President, Baron Waqa, and his decision is final.

The changes have come into force just a week after former President Sprent Dabwido was refused permission to fly to Australia for medical treatment, and he's in no doubt they're aimed at him.