Monthly Wrap Dec 2024

In the media

In community and locked detention

Serco lost the contract for immigration detention in Australia, a role they have played since 2009. The new contractor has not yet been announced. A human rights lawyer told the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Australia’s detention centres are prisons where people are often detained unlawfully. The High Court ruled that it is unlawful to impose curfews and ankle bracelets on people who are moved into the community. Additional High Court cases are underway as to the lawfulness of detaining people while their protection applications are being assessed.

Boat arrivals

Indigenous rangers have criticised the rapid response of Border Force to boats carrying asylum seekers compared to the absence of response when they report illegal fishing in the area. After assisting four men recently, they demanded assurance from authorities that the men would be cared for.

International

As the ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, the UN World Food Program detailed the scale of the famine threat and the complexity of delivering food aid. The UNHCR recognised Thailand as leading the world in their efforts to end statelessness. Italian Courts blocked the transfer of asylum seekers to Albania on the basis that EU law only permits the accelerated removal of people where they have come from countries considered safe. As President-elect Trump promised mass deportations of asylum seekers and illegal migrants, businesses working in detention and prison services expect to profit from the policy.

In policy

The government ended the parliamentary year by introducing legislation that will enable (i) Australia to pay a third country to receive failed asylum seekers, (ii) the re-detention of people who were released due to the NZYQ High Court ruling, and (iii) the Minister to declare any item (e.g. a mobile phone) to be prohibited in detention. A Senate inquiry heard that up to 80,000 people could be affected by the proposed removal powers. A bipartisan Parliamentary committee found that the re-detention legislation could impact on people’s human rights on multiple levels. The Coalition asserted that they are basically running the government’s immigration policy.

In research

The largest known study into the prevalence of mental health ill-health among people who spent time in Australian immigration detention found it was profound. On PTSD they were at 16-22 times more risk than the general population, the rate depended on whether their detention was onshore or offshore and whether it was above or below six months duration.

The Human Rights Law Centre and the University of Melbourne analysed the increase in visa cancellations and its effect on immigration detention and deportation.  The Refugee Council of Australia published evaluation findings of a decade of their Refugee Stories for Change program.

New releases and events

70th anniversary of the Convention on Statelessness, a webinar by the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness on 12 December 2024.

Monthly Wrap Nov 2024

In the media

Permanent residence protest

On the final day of a 100-day rally for permanent residency in Melbourne, white supremacists sought to sabotage the event. The asylum seekers rallying for residency were subject to the flawed ‘fast track’ decision-making process and have been in legal limbo for over ten years. 

In court

A new class action case was brought on behalf of South Sudanese refugees who have finished their prison sentences but remain in indefinite detention because they cannot be deported to their country of origin. 

Nauru and PNG

Following the National Anti-Corruption Commission report into the offshore detention contracts to Paladin, Crikey published a 3-part series on the questions that remain outstanding. Radio National’s Late Night Live discussed the rise in the number of people that have been sent to Nauru and the conditions they are experiencing.

In Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon

The Israeli Knesset passed legislation to ban UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil. The move was widely condemned for the impact it will have on vulnerable people and the precedent it sets for conflicts elsewhere. The Conversation published a feature on the bidirectional flight of refugees between Lebanon and Syria as they seek safety from violence and conflict in their respective countries of origin.

International

The ongoing war in Sudan has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The UNHCR data portal on Sudan provides a live update on the number of people who have fled the conflict, over 11 million displaced, and their whereabouts. More than 48 people died and a further 100 were reported missing when they were apparently forced off a boat near Djibouti. The European Court of Justice found that the Taliban’s treatment of women constitutes persecution, the latest restriction being women are prohibited from praying aloud. In practical terms this means individual assessments of Afghan women are not necessary to determine their eligibility for refugee status. The EU Commissioner talked up the concept of regional “return hubs” outside of the EU based on the arrangement that Italy and Albania have agreed.

In policy

The government proposed legislation to increase the search and seize powers of staff at immigration detention centres. The Foreign Affairs Minister released Australia’s latest Humanitarian Policy. The UNSW Kaldor Centre published a Policy Brief on redesigning Australia’s asylum procedures, using Switzerland as the model. 

In research

The Scanlon Institute’s Australian Migration and Population Dashboard brings together statistics on the various aspects of migration. The Measuring Irregular Migration and related Policies project, MIrreM, published an updated working paper on irregular migration across 20 countries.

New release

Seize the Summit, a documentary directed by Arwa Damon

Monthly Wrap Oct 2024

In the media

PNG and Nauru

The men who Australia sent to PNG once again face eviction due to unpaid rent. Denmark’s Immigration Minister visited Nauru to look at the pros and cons of Australia’s offshore detention system.

Palestinians in Australia

The number of Palestinians who lodged asylum applications in Australia continued to grow. The Home Affairs Minister confirmed that he authorised temporary protection visas to a handful of Palestinian families. Documents show that all applications from Palestinians were checked by ASIO.

International

Rohingya men reported that they are being abducted and forced to serve in the Arakan Army, who are fighting the Myanmar army for control of Rakhine state. Melbourne’s Peter McMullin Centre for Statelessness will hold an online seminar on the situation of stateless people in Rakhine state. As the Taliban passed a new law that prohibits women from talking outside of their home, CNN reported on the determination of Afghan girls to get educated. The Venezuelan presidential candidate, who many states recognise as the winner of their election, fled to Spain. Germany has reintroduced border checks for a period of six months. Documents secured under freedom of information detail the situation of people who were subject to the UK’s Rwanda transfer program.

In policy

The government proposed legislation that would further limit asylum seeker’s access to AAT merits review. Submissions on the proposed change can be viewed here. Guardian Australia published a feature on the inconsistency in government treatment of people based on where they have come from. The Refugee Council of Australia urged the government to reconsider the applicants who were rejected under the controversial ‘fast track’ decision-making process in 2014.

New releases

Being stateless, an oral history podcast, a podcast series by the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness.

Monthly Wrap Sept 2024

In the media

Israel-Palestine war

August’s news cycle was dominated by the Opposition leader’s claim that granting visas to Palestinians seeking safe haven from Gaza poses a national security risk. The former Immigration Deputy Secretary accused the Coalition of quoting him selectively in order to substantiate their position. Guardian Australia published an explainer on the situation and the security clearances that Palestinians need to pass in order to exit Gaza. Meanwhile the government granted healthcare and work rights to a small number of Israelis and Palestinians who have sought sanctuary in Australia. Reuters published an explainer on why the city of Jenin, and the large refugee camp there, is a focal point in the Israel-Palestine war.

Immigration Detention

Independent MP Kylea Tink moved a private member’s bill that would put a 90-day limit on immigration detention, including at offshore locations.

In the community

A Tamil man who was on bridging visas for over 11 years took his own life. The Tamil Refugee Council reported that he was the second asylum seeker to suicide in a month. The Saturday Paper featured a story on the community refugee sponsorship program, CRISP,  and Guardian Australia ran a story on a social enterprise that is employing refugees as florists.

International

The perilous situation for Rohingya’s persists and was discussed in an interview on ABC Radio National. The number of Sudanese refugees entering Libya has surged. The largest ever refugee team at the 2024 Paralympics celebrated their first ever medal, in taekwondo. After suspending deportations to Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power, Germany has resumed deportations of Afghans who have committed crimes. In one of the worst drowning incidents in the English Channel, at least twelve people drowned when an overcrowded boat carrying many women and children sank.  

In policy

As the revamped Administrative Appeals Tribunal AAT takes shape, The Saturday Paper published an assessment of the extent to which the government honoured it’s commitment to merits-based appointments.

In research

UNSW launched a research project into the professional development needs of women who were forcibly displaced prior to settling in Australia. The UNSW Kaldor Centre published a panel discussion on resettlement and complimentary protection.    

Monthly Wrap August 2024

In the media

Offshore operations and PNG

The Australian government agreed a new funding deal with the government of Papua New Guinea for assistance to the refugees who remain there. Australian Border Force intercepted more boats en route from Indonesia to Australia. Our statistics page provides an overview of the number of boat intercepts or arrivals over recent years.

The Israeli-Hamas war

A significant rise in the number of Palestinians applying for protection from within Australia has resulted in refugee advocates calling for the creation of a specific emergency uplift visa. This would end the situation where people escaping war must rely on tourist visas to enter Australia. A bill to declare UNRWA a terrorist organisation passed the first reading in the Israeli Knesset. UNRWA schools continued to be targeted by Israeli military airstrikes.

Afghanistan 

ABC’s Earshot program published a story on how a group of Australians helped a young couple to escape Afghanistan. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees visited Pakistan to encourage the government to regularise the status of Aghan refugees there and to urge the international community to assist large refugee-hosting countries like Pakistan.

International

As the largest ever Olympic refugee team commenced competition in Paris, the IOC named the 2024 Paralympic refugee team. Only one of the Olympic refugee team members lives in Africa. A Somali refugee revealed that he was forcibly conscripted into the Russian army after he entered their territory in attempt to reach western Europe. The new UK government confirmed that the Rwanda-UK deal has been scrapped.  

In policy

The Prime Minister announced Tony Burke as the new Home Affairs Minister and Matt Thistlethwaite as Assistant Minister responsible for immigration. On the eleventh anniversary of the policy announcement, of the then-Labor government, that no person arriving by boat could settle in Australia, the Refugee Council of Australia called for a change in approach.  

In research

The IOM, MMC and UNHCR published collaborative research that maps the routes and risks refugees face in their journey to safety. The UNHCR piloted its Forced Displacement Survey in South Sudan to examine the impact of the civil war in Sudan on those communities who host the almost 1,600 Sudanese refugees arriving daily. A number of papers on the trend to externalise asylum responsibilities onto other states were published in the Externalizing Asylum website in July.

Monthly Wrap July 2024

In the media

In the community

A successful pilot program, Talent Beyond Boundaries, that has facilitated the settlement of around 500 skilled refugees in Australia aims to become a global program. Sister Jane Keogh was awarded an AM for her work advocating for better treatment of refugees in Australia. A refugee, who fled his country of origin because his sexuality made him a target for abuse, was beaten in what he believes was a homophobic attack in Sydney. Refugee Week was celebrated with a range of events and productions around Australia.  

Global displacement

ABC’s Big Ideas broadcast a panel discussion on global displacement and the extent to which governments try to restrict the entry of people who have been displaced by persecution, war and environmental disasters. The UNHCR forecasts that the number of people in their refugee resettlement program will reach 3 million people next year.

In Nauru and at sea

With forcible transfers to Nauru on the increase, Guardian Australia published a story on their options and the future of Australia’s operations there. Meanwhile the Department of Home Affairs confirmed the purchase of four unmanned aircraft to increase Australia’s maritime surveillance capacity.

International

The Israeli Defence Force bombed an UNRWA site killing 8 people. The European Court of Justice fined Hungary €200 million for failing to comply with the EU’s asylum laws. Rwanda accused the UNHCR of lying when it claimed that people sent to Rwanda by the UK risked being forcibly sent to places where they could face persecution.

In policy

The ABC reported that, by failing to include its controversial immigration legislation in the final sitting week before the winter break, the government appears to have abandoned the policy. The Commonwealth Ombudsman published an annual report (for the 2023 financial year) into the situation where the government detained people on the basis that they were unlawful non-citizens, but then later found that they did indeed have a lawful right to be in Australia. The Iranian government expressed interest in negotiating an extradition treaty with Australia that could pave the way for people being involuntarily returned to Iran.

In research

Ipsos research into people’s attitudes towards refugees found that Middle Eastern, African and Latin American countries were the most open to taking in more refugees. The Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness issued a call for papers for their 2025 Doctoral Workshop.

New releases

Flavours of Hope, a free online cookbook published by Australia for UNHCR. 

Monthly Wrap June 2024

In the media

The High Court

The High Court ruled that it is lawful to indefinitely detain people when they do not cooperate with the deportation process. The court is currently hearing another case challenging the lawfulness of legislation requiring all former detainees to have curfews and ankle bracelets placed on them. The court heard that the blanket nature of the legislation, whereby Ministerial discretion was removed at the urging of the Coalition, is a key reason to rule that the legislation is unlawful.

Detention and ex-detainees

The flawed risk assessment tool used in immigration detention, and covered in an earlier monthly wrap, cannot be improved because the ABF data that it uses is unreliable. Since last month’s reporting of the Perth violent home invasion by ex-detainees, the media reported that one of the accused was released from detention when the Coalition were in government.

In Nauru

Thirty-three people who reached Christmas Island by boat were transferred to Nauru. It was unclear whether they had intended to claim asylum. They joined the approximately 54 people who were already on Nauru.

Palestinians in Gaza and Australia

Around ¼ of Palestinians who have come to Australia since the Israel-Hamas war started, have lodged protection applications. Meanwhile the government confirmed that 4,614 Palestinians abroad have been refused a visa on the basis that their intention to stay temporarily was not credible.

In the community

SBS The Feed published a story on the difficulties that people have proving their sexuality when being LGBT in their country of origin was illegal. A South Australian refugee organisation launched an app for migrants and refugees to find relevant services and info.  On her return to Kakuma refugee camp, after 18 years, Nyadol Nyuon reflected [video story] on the role that the camp library played in shaping her future.

International

In Sudan, Human Rights Watch demanded action to address ethnic cleansing that is occurring amidst the ongoing civil war. Ethiopia’s Digital ID program was described as transformational for refugees. The UNHCR commended Brazil for its integration-focused refugee policies and The Conversation profiled the large Palestinian community in Chile. Public servants in the UK launched a court case against the government on the basis that the Rwanda transfer legislation will require them to break the law. The Conversation published an analysis of how the Rwanda transfer program challenges international law. The US government commenced trials to use AI to conduct asylum interviews.

In policy

The Refugee Council of Australia published an analysis of the federal budget as it pertains to the refugee sector. The proposed new deportation laws could result in people who have been in Australia since childhood being deported. The Coalition announced it will pursue amendments to the bill, with a focus on the best interests of children and any impact on diaspora communities arising from the proposed power to dent certain nationalities from applying for protection. After the revelation that a man, now accused of murder, had had his humanitarian visa reinstated by the AAT despite his propensity to violence, the government announced it will amend Direction 99 to require greater emphasis on public safety. SBS News published an explainer on Direction 99. The government has closed the Locally Engaged Employee program that assisted the evacuation of Afghans whose lives were in danger because they had worked with Australian forces.

In research

The World Health Organisation published a report on the third consultation on refugee and migrant health. Philomena Murray and Ainoa Cabada co-authored a paper on the intersection between academics and policy and how academics can work more effectively with refugees and advocates. The UNSW Kaldor Centre co-authored an analysis into the gender and sexuality-based risks for people who are subject to government policies that contract out their refugee obligations to other nations. The Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness opened applications for its 2025 PhD program. 

New releases

Safe Haven, a book by Shankari Chandran, published by Ultimo.

Monthly Wrap May 2024

In the media

Boat arrivals

Chinese nationals who reached the Kimberley coast by boat, and were labelled asylum seekers by the media, stated that they were seeking economic opportunity. At the time of their arrival, an ABC reporter provided an insight into local reaction to the situation.  

In detention

Sayed Abdellatif’s twelve years in immigration detention has ended after the Immigration Minister granted him a temporary protection visa. One of the people released after the High Court unlawful detention ruling is in custody on charges of a violent home invasion. Separately, another former immigration detainee was cleared of all sexual assault charges after the prosecution failed to provide any evidence in court.  The High Court has adjourned in the matter of ASF17, a case to clarify the lawfulness of ongoing detention where a person does not cooperate in the deportation process.

In the community

One of the people killed by the Bondi Junction attacker was a Pakistani refugee who was working his  first day shift as a security guard.

International

The UNHCR and the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network have partnered to create innovative financing programs to support initiatives that improve the lives of forcibly displaced people in the Asia-Pacific region. The EU Parliament approved the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which mandates countries to cooperate on the reception and relocation of asylum seekers to reduce pressure on the southern states. The UK government passed legislation to enable the implementation of their policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Cyprus suspended asylum applications from Syrians in response to an increase in arrivals. Azerbaijan asked the International Court of Justice to dismiss an Armenian case that alleges ethnic cleansing is occurring in the Nagorno-Karabagh region.  

In policy

A Senate Inquiry has been told that legislation, which criminalises a person’s refusal to cooperate with the deportation process, could inadvertently affect 4,463 people on Bridging Visa E. The Human Rights Commission’s latest inspection report on the Yongah Hill Detention Centre highlighted serious safety concerns from behaviours that are common to a prison system and inadequate health care.    

In research

Research commissioned by the Queensland government found more than 6,000 refugees and migrants have qualifications that match current skill shortage areas but cannot gain employment in those fields. It charts a way forward to enable appropriately skilled refugees and migrants to access employment in their field of expertise. The International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) called for papers for their 2024 Asia-Pacific Conference.

Monthly Wrap April 2024

In the media

NZYQ High Court decision

In the wake of the High Court’s determination that indefinite detention is unlawful, lawyers believe that the government is settling cases out of court in order to prevent the lawfulness of curfews and ankle bracelets being tested in court. The AFP mistakenly arrested an Iraqi refugee based on incorrect information. This follows last month’s wrongful arrest, by Victoria Police, of a former immigration detainee in Melbourne.

Detention

Guardian Australia revealed that Serco, the contractor that runs immigration detention, uses a software program to determine the risk rating of detainees. The risk rating is used to decide how a person is managed in detention and has been found to have frequently been based on erroneous information.

Nauru and PNG

The coronial inquest into the death of Faysal Ishak, on Manus Island in 2016, heard how he was repeatedly dismissed by the contracted medical provider, IHMS, in the weeks leading up to his death. Hundreds of refugees, who were subjected to offshore processing, have passed 5 years since they were placed on rolling 6-month bridging visas.

Community

Hazara women in Shepparton have established the first Afghan-based Rural Australians for Refugees group in Australia. Despite Australia’s persistent skill shortage challenge, skilled refugees still find it difficult to secure work in their field of expertise.

International

According to the latest Missing Migrants Project report, more than 63,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes in the last ten years. The majority drowned. The UNHCR reported a 20% jump in philanthropic support for refugees from Islamic communities in 2023. Around 70 Rohingya people are feared drowned after their boat capsized off Indonesia. The UNHCR published new guidance on international protection for people fleeing Haiti.

In policy

The government rushed through legislation that criminalises a failure to cooperate in the deportation process, but the legislation has not yet passed the Senate. The legislation expands the Immigration Minister’s power and was passed through the lower house without any opportunity for debate.

New releases

Statelessness in Asia, edited by Michelle Foster, Jaclyn Neo and Christoph Sperfeldt, published by Cambridge University Press

Monthly Wrap March 2024

In the media

In Nauru and Papua New Guinea

A review into how offshore contracts were awarded found that inadequate due diligence resulted in large contracts being awarded to people involved in crime and corruption. The approximately 40 people who arrived by boat in Beagle Bay, Western Australia, were transferred to Nauru. Residents of Beagle Bay spoke of their dehydration and the frequency with which they see foreign fishing boats at sea. The Border Force Commissioner issued a statement on the level of funding for Operation Sovereign Borders after Peter Dutton claimed that their budget had been cut.

Rwandan Genocidaires in Australia

The Guardian published a number of stories on the Rwandan genocidaires living in Australia, and an apparent lack of action by Australian governments to deport them.

Overseas

The ABC published a pictorial of the fire that destroyed more than 7,000 informal homes in Cox’s Bazar. A Sudanese refugee tested Spain’s assertion that people could apply for asylum at a Spanish embassy rather than trying to enter Spain without a visa. A former Russian commander of the Wagner paramilitary group was refused asylum in Norway. ABC’s Religion and Ethics report discussed the allegation that asylum seekers in the UK were falsely converting to Christianity in order to boost their refugee application.

In policy

The commonwealth ombudsman issued a scathing assessment of Australian Border Force’s deportation procedures, including an apparent lack of procedural response to the recent High Court ruling.  The Attorney General asked the High Court to rule on the lawfulness of detention in situations where the individual refuses to cooperate in the deportation process. Legal experts warned that the new preventative detention powers could be unlawful on the basis of contravening human rights obligations. The University sector is lobbying for a program that would enable refugees to apply to come to Australia for study.

In research

Researchers considered the situation of refugees who remain in situ after the UNHCR has withdrawn from a refugee camp, and the extent to which those communities can access the safeguards under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. A collective of NGOs and scholars published guidelines on the how to co-design research with refugees and displaced people. The UNSW Kaldor Centre mapped the use of hotels as places of detention in Australia.

New releases

Damage: a story of refugees and refuge, a film by Madeleine Blackwell, starring Ali Al Jenabi (who was convicted of people smuggling in 2004). 

Monthly Wrap February 2024

In the media

In Court

A man, who forced a refugee to work in slave like conditions, was sentenced to more than 3 years in prison. Three High Court cases were abandoned after the government dropped the requirement for the plaintiffs to wear ankle bracelets.

In Nauru and PNG

A businesswoman with links to Australia’s offshore refugee program in PNG faced court on drug smuggling charges. A number of the people who were transferred from Australia to Nauru in September 2023 have returned to their countries of origin.

In Gaza

Confirmation that UNRWA had terminated the contracts of staff who were allegedly involved in the Hamas attack on Israel caused a number of countries, including Australia, to pause funding to the UN agency.

In Indonesia

The Australian Federal Court ordered the government to pay compensation to Indonesian people who were charged with people smuggling and jailed as adults on the basis of a flawed age testing technique. Acehnese people have become increasingly hostile to the arrival of Rohingya people as the government has adopted a hard-line approach to dealing with their plight.

In policy

Legal experts have raised doubts about the need for the Preventative Detention legislation that was rushed through parliament in December. Human Rights Watch criticised Australia’s treatment of people seeking asylum and the conditions under which Australia detains them. Guardian Australia profiled the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot CRISP and some of the families who have settled in Australia through this pathway.

In research

The UNSW Kaldor Centre has commenced a 5-year research program into ‘Evacuations in International Law: Disasters, Conflict and Humanitarian Crises,' including the creation of Laureate Postdoctoral Fellowships.

New releases

Prosecuting Evil, a documentary on the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials, available on ABC iview.

Australian Epic: The Tampa, a re-telling of the events that unfolded when the MV Tampa rescued refugees at sea, available on ABC iview.

Back Roads Naracoorte, a program on the small South Australian community that has embraced refugees, available on ABC iview.

Monthly Wrap December 2023

In the media

In Court

The High Court ruling, that the continued detention of people who cannot be deported is unlawful, resulted in the release of over 140 people and legislation rushed through Parliament. That new legislation was immediately challenged in the High Court. The Federal Court ordered the immediate release of a refugee who had been detained for over 11 years.

In Gaza

UNRWA, who have the mandate for the care of Palestinian refugees, warned that the conflict may result in over 1 million people becoming refugees. The ABC published an explainer on the repeated shelling of refugee camps in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force. 

In PNG and Nauru

The government agreed to settle a negligence claim brought on behalf of an infant that became seriously ill while detained on Nauru. The eviction risk for the men who remain in PNG remains unresolved as the PNG government calls for further funding from the Australian government.

Afghans in Pakistan

Pakistan’s policy to forcibly return 1.7 million undocumented Afghans has resulted in many thousands of people living in tents as winter takes hold. NGOs have blamed western governments, including Australia, for abandoning Afghan people. Al Jazeera published a story on the options that Afghan people face.

International

Finland closed four border crossings with Russia to decrease the number of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants entering the country. Italy secured a deal with Albania whereby they would detain and process asylum seekers on Italy’s behalf. The UK Supreme Court ruled the Rwanda deal was unconstitutional and Austria stated its intention to pursue a similar policy. People entering Greece to claim asylum reported that they were subjected to invasive strip searches on arrival. Cate Blanchett urged the European Parliament to return humanity to the core of asylum policy. Refugees fleeing Darfur reported ethnically based killings amidst the ongoing fighting in Sudan. Canada’s new skilled refugees pilot program was criticised for potentially setting a dangerous precedent if refugees are assessed on their skills rather than their protection needs.

In policy

In response to the High Court ruling, the government announced its intention to pass preventative detention legislation in the final sitting week. Documents tabled in the Senate showed the Attorney-General approved the Human Rights Commission’s request to intervene in the High Court case, as it is required to do. Independent MP Kylea Tink introduced a bill to place a 90 day time limit on immigration detention and to ban the detention of children. The Refugee Council of Australia published their letter to government outlining their concerns on the new immigration detention legislation. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture urged the government to address the failures of contracted businesses to ensure detention centres are safe for detainees and staff.  The UNHCR published the program and papers for December’s Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.

In research

The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare published research into the health service use, health outcomes and causes of death for people who sought safe haven in Australia. A collaboration between Universities and NGOs researched the impact that Covid-19 measures had on refugee and migrant communities access to justice. The Human Rights Law Centre, in the UK, published an assessment of the first six months of the Streamlined Asylum Process.

New releases

Evacuation, a documentary on the British evacuation of Afghans in 2021

Monthly Wrap November 2023

In the media

In Nauru, PNG and Christmas Island

Eleven people were sent to Nauru after their boat was intercepted en route to Australia. Background Briefing presented an in-depth account of the whistleblower who leaked the Nauru files to the media. An immigration official in PNG alleged that Australian funds sent for the offshore program were misappropriated. This comes as the men who remain there face further uncertainty over their accommodation and supports. The detention centre on Christmas Island is once again empty as detainees have been deported or returned to the mainland.  

In Gaza

Thirty people were killed by an Israeli air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp. The Associated Press published an explainer on Egypt and Jordan’s refusal to allow Palestinians to enter their countries. The United Nations Relief Works Agency UNRWA called for an immediate ceasefire. Republicans called for Gazans to be banned from entering America.

In Court

In November the High Court will hear a challenge to indefinite detention. The case is brought by a Rohingya man and will seek to overturn the 2004 Al Kateb ruling that found a person can be indefinitely detained even when they cannot be removed from the country. Refugees who were detained by the Howard government have experienced lengthy delays in getting their compensation claims heard in court. Some have died while waiting for a hearing.

International

More than 4,000 people have been killed in Darfur amid the intensifying conflict in Sudan. The UN stated that refugees and displaced people were targeted based on their ethnicities. Meanwhile youth groups have mobilised to assist people who fled the fighting in Khartoum. The Republic of Congo was congratulated for signing up to the 1954 and 1961 Conventions aimed at ending statelessness. Canada granted protection to a Chinese activist who had spent two weeks in a Taiwanese airport transit lounge. The UK commenced flights to evacuate Afghans who had worked for the UK and then fled to Pakistan after the Taliban take-over. The German government drafted legislation to make it easier to deport failed asylum seekers and to extend the permitted detention timeframe prior to their deportation.

In policy

A review into Australia’s visa system detailed widespread exploitation by bad faith actors, which was aided by the lengthy processing times for visa classes such as protection visas. The report found that a preoccupation with the risk of people arriving by boat diverted attention away from vulnerabilities elsewhere in the visa system. The government announced an overhaul of the protection visa processing approach so as to clear the backlog. Crikey fact checked Peter Dutton’s claim that 105,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australia since Labor came to power. The Saturday Paper published a feature on how people within the same family have different visa statuses due to Australian policy whereby people’s rights are based on the manner in which they arrived in the country, rather than the circumstances that they fled.

In research

Melbourne University’s Social Equity Institute opened bookings for their 2023 Migration, Refugees and Statelessness Interdisciplinary conference. They also hosted a webinar on how to use the Australian Research on Refugee Integration Database (ARRID) database.

New releases

Home to Biloela, a book by Priya Nadesalingham with Rebekah Holt, published by Allen and Unwin.

Monthly Wrap October 2023

In the media

Detention

An Iranian man, detained for over ten years, took his case to the High Court after the former Home Affairs Minister suddenly changed his status to get around a Federal Court order that he should be moved into the community. The complexity of his case was detailed in a CNN report.

Offshore detention regime

The AAT ruled that asylum seekers who suffered loss or damage from the 2014 Home Affairs data breach are eligible for compensation. Men who remain stuck in Papua New Guinea due to Australia’s offshore detention policy were issued eviction notices because their accommodation bills had not been paid for over a year.

Protest

Refugees, who were processed under the ‘fast track’ scheme and remain in legal limbo, protested outside Minister O’Neil’s electorate office.

International

Azerbaijan’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh caused 60km queues at the border, as ethnic Armenians fled their homeland. The UNHCR stated that more than $1 billion in aid is needed to assist Sudanese people fleeing the ongoing conflict in their country. The World Bank increased its funding to Chad to assist with the arrival of Sudanese refugees. The IOM declared the Mexico-USA border as the world’s deadliest land route for refugees and migrants. Lebanon’s interim PM complained that the significant increase in Syrians entering the country risks unsettling the demographics of Lebanon. Asylum applications in the EU increased 20% in the past year. Italy reacted to the increase by extending the permitted duration of detention for people awaiting deportation. The UK Home Secretary called for an update to the refugee convention to prevent, as she claims, a tendency for courts to interpret the risk of discrimination as being sufficient grounds for refugee protection.

In policy

The Guardian revealed that in 2020 the Auditor-General’s department warned Home Affairs that it had failed to meet the key principles of immigration detention; namely i) the speedy resolution of people’s cases and ii) prioritising community detention over locked detention. The UNSW Kaldor Centre published a policy brief on strengthening asylum systems.  A man who walked from Ballarat to Sydney to bring attention to the plight of asylum seekers who are denied work rights, was granted permanent residency by way of Ministerial intervention. The Saturday Paper published a piece on the role that Australian politicians played in the UK’s current refugee policies.

In research

A study found that 46% of refugee and migrant women in Australia had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the last 5 years. A social impact agency called Purpose published a study into the role of the media in online hate speech in Australia, in which the negative framing of refugees was one of their case studies. A review of European resettlement found that 16 EU member states had not resettled a single refugee this year. The UNSW Kaldor Centre released the program for its 2023 Conference on 20 November 2023.

New releases

The Disposables, a drama by the ABC 

When Migrants Fail to Stay. New Histories on Departures and Migration. An anthology edited by Balint, Damousi and Fitzpatrick. Published by Bloomsbury.

Monthly Wrap September 2023

In the media

Offshore detention

The family of Reza Berati, who was killed at the detention centre on Manus Island, agreed to a financial settlement with the Commonwealth and G4S Security.

Labour exploitation

The Federal Court ruled that a major recycling company in Victoria systematically exploited asylum seekers and migrants who worked for them.

Afghan women’s football team

Malala Yousafzai has joined calls for the Afghan Women’s football team, currently in exile in Australia, to be permitted to play international tournaments. 

International

A million people have fled the conflict in Sudan. Flash flooding destroyed the make-shift houses of around 15,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. Al Jazeera published a detailed account of living conditions in the Cox’s Bazar camp. The UNHCR called for a regional response to address the number of Rohingya people who are dying at sea in their effort to seek safe haven. Conditions in a Libyan migrant centre were highlighted when footage of an emaciated woman, who lay dead, was shared to media outlets. In the UK, the barge that was to accommodate asylum seekers was evacuated within days of opening due to a bacteria outbreak. The government there has been criticised for sending a number of unaccompanied children to adult prisons. It stated that it intends to leave the European Court of Human Rights if their Rwanda policy is blocked and has negotiated a deal with Turkey on supporting their police to intercept people smuggling operations.  

In policy

The government announced an increase in the annual humanitarian in-take. The ALP’s latest party platform includes a commitment to appoint a special envoy for refugees, to initiate an inquiry into immigration detention and to permit asylum seekers to study while their claims are processed. Former NSW Premier and current RCOA board member, Nick Greiner, called for an end to the visa limbo experienced by asylum seekers who were subjected to offshore detention. At a gathering in Shepparton, Iranian asylum seekers shared their frustration at remaining in visa limbo ten years after having arrived in Australia.

In research

The Refugee Council of Australia published an analysis of Australia’s claims of a generous refugee program. The Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness opened applications for its annual Statelessness Intensive course. Human Rights Watch published a report on the murder, by Saudi border guards, of hundreds of Ethiopians who attempted to cross the Saudi-Yemen border.

New releases

The Decline and Fall of Republican Afghanistan, a book by Ahmad Shuja and William Malley, published by Hurst Publishers. 

Monthly Wrap August 2023

In the media

Nauru and PNG

As Australians rallied in support of refugees on the ten year anniversary of the return to offshore processing, the 9 Media group revealed that Nauru detention contracts were awarded to a businessman who was under AFP investigation for corruption. ABC’s 7:30 ran a detailed overview of the issue and the Guardian raised concerns that Home Affairs may have misled the Senate. Parliamentary documents revealed that, in December 2021, Australia signed a confidential deal with Papua New Guinea whereby they would keep refugees there in exchange for funds. The current government refuses to release the details of the payments.  

Detention

A federal judge found that, despite the harsh conditions of hotel detention, it was not illegal.  Documents obtained under Freedom of Information showed 115 people were unlawfully detained in the last five years. A fire broke out at Villawood detention centre, forcing people to jump out their windows.

Protection Visas

Home Affairs data shows a doubling in the number of people who have claimed asylum after having arrived by plane in the last year. A person who has been on a temporary protection visa for 11 years, mostly without work rights, commenced a walk from Ballarat to Canberra to raise awareness of the plight of people in his situation.

International

Palestinians in a Jenin refugee camp lost their homes and cars from an aerial assault operation by the Israeli Defence Force amid the continued escalation in violence. The World Food Program announced a cut in food allowances to Syrian refugees in Jordan. The Hong Kong police announced bounties for the capture of eight democracy activists who fled the country, one of whom is Australian. Investigations into a deadly boat sinking in the Mediterranean suggest it may have been caused by Greek Coastguard attempts to tow the boat. The UK Parliament passed the Illegal Migration Bill, described as the country’s most extreme immigration legislation ever. Journalists in England toured a  barge that will house asylum seekers off their coast.

In policy

The government announced an additional $2.6million in funding will be allocated to settlement service providers.   

In research

Research found that detention more than doubles a person’s risk of PTSD. UNSW research concluded that securing temporary protection visas (labelled ‘medium security’) did not improve people’s mental wellbeing. The Melbourne Social Equity Institute’s annual conference on Migration, Refugees and Statelessness opened for registration. The UNSW Kaldor Centre advertised for two Visiting Fellowship positions, for people based in Sydney who have experienced displacement.

Monthly Wrap July 2023

In the media

In detention

The Human Rights Commission has released a report on hotel detention, finding serious human rights impacts on detainees, and making 24 recommendations to the Australian government. Australian protestors gathered outside hotel detention demanding the release of evacuees from Nauru and highlighting their ongoing trauma.

In Nauru and PNG

Multiple sources reported that the last refugee was evacuated from Nauru on 24 June. In the wake of this news, there have been many individuals sharing their experiences on Nauru. Along with this news, many advocates and media are urging the Australian government to take responsibility for those abandoned in Papua New Guinea.

In regional Australia

One man who fled Myanmar and settled in Western Australia reflects on the community he has found in Australia and his hopes for the end of conflict in his home country.

International

UNHCR released its Global Trends report which announced that the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached 108.4 million by the end of 2022, and has reached 110 million now. The significant increase is attributed to the number of people fleeing Ukraine, and the ongoing displacement from Afghanistan. Refugees who went into hiding after the Taliban takeover have found safety in Australia with the help of a stranger. Refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan are being turned back at the border, and the international community has pledged 1.5 billion dollars in aid. How has the war in Sudan affected Sudanese people in Australia, and their families back home? Listen to the Guardian’s podcast. A fishing boat carrying asylum seekers and migrants off the coast of Greece has sunk. There have been 78 recorded deaths and hundreds still missing.

In policy

The Refugee Council of Australia urged the government to act on its pledge to increase the quota of the Refugee and Humanitarian program from 13,750 to 27,000 places after new figures on global displacement. 50 years on from Whitlam’s review of Australia’s multicultural policy, the Albanese government announced a review in February. The Conversation focused on what the review is seeking to achieve.

In research

New research published on mental deterioration of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia with uncertain legal status, focused particularly on the recent changes to refugees holding TPV and SHEV visas announced in March 2023.

New releases

Freedom is Beautiful  is a new documentary following the journey of two Kurdish refugees, Farhad Bandesh and Mostafa (Moz) Azimitabar, who were finally freed from detention after being imprisoned for almost eight years under Australia’s offshore processing regime.

Monthly Wrap June 2023

In the media

Refugee Week

The Refugee Council of Australia published a list of events that will occur during and around Refugee Week.  The University Technology Sydney will host a webinar on the role of universities in assisting refugees. Many local councils have planned events to mark the week.

In Nauru and PNG

The government forecast that the Nauru centre will continue to cost $350 million per year even if no refugees are present on the island. It was revealed that the former government paid $17.5million to a company owned by a convicted criminal. Two women shared their experience of sexual assault while they were under Australia’s care in Nauru. A man in PNG doused himself in petrol in the offices of the support services provider, after his support payments were suspended. Guardian Australia commemorated its 10 year anniversary with a behind the scenes look at how they dealt with the Nauru files leak.

In Detention

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture named Australia and the UK as outliers due to the absence of time limits on immigration detention. She stated that detaining someone beyond 3 months with no timeframe on release could be classified as a form of torture. Australia is on track to become the first OECD country to be placed on the non-compliance list under the OPCAT treaty. A stateless man was freed after more than 13 years in detention.

In Regional Australia

Ezidi people reflected on their sense of belonging in Armidale, which is home to around 650 Ezidi people.

International

Japan passed a controversial law that enables a person who makes multiple applications for asylum, to be deported. The UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty warned that stateless Rohingya people face the same level of extreme poverty as Palestinian people. Following an inspection visit to Rakhine state, a delegation of Rohingya people insisted they would only return if they were given full citizenship and were guaranteed security and freedom of movement. The German federal government promised €1 billion to local states that have experienced a sharp increase in the number of refugees requiring housing and social support. The commitment was part of negotiations between the levels of government about how support expenses should be funded. As the USA ended the pandemic-induced Title 42 law on people seeking asylum, Guardian Australia published an explainer on what this means for people seeking entry from Mexico.  

In policy

Despite a promised boost in the annual refugee in-take, the government did not allocate additional funding for resettlement in the budget. The Refugee Council of Australia and the UNSW Kaldor Centre published analyses of the federal budget from the perspective of people seeking asylum. Sudanese people, who were in Australia when the violence erupted in their homeland, shared their worries about their visas expiring with no prospect of a safe return home. The UNSW Kaldor Centre reported that the AAT updated how it interprets ‘well-founded fear of persecution' 

In research

Academics from Murdoch University and the University of South Australia published research that found that protracted visa uncertainty causes significant psychological harm for people.

Monthly Wrap May 2023

In the media

In Court

A High Court decision on two cases involving Ministerial Intervention on visa matters will require a review of the Ministerial Guidelines and could impact visa decisions as far back as 2016. After a class action on the issue of detention was discontinued, people’s accounts of their experience in Manus Island were combined with AI imagery to tell their stories.

Afghanistan

A Sydney mother and son have assisted almost 100 Afghan children to evacuate to Australia in the past year. Meanwhile Canada is on track to achieve its aim of resetting 40,000 Afghan refugees by the end of the year.  

International

New Zealand amended its immigration detention laws to enable asylum seekers who arrive ‘en masse’ by ship to be detained for up to 28 days for processing. Around 20,000 Sudanese people have fled into Chad, with 100,000 more expected if the conflict continues. Canada announced a new policy to settle more skilled refugees as one way to address their labour shortage. The UK government announced a plan to house asylum seekers on a barge off the Dorset coast. Documents obtained under freedom of information show the UK Coastguard ignored 19 distress calls from people on boats that were floundering in the English Channel.

In policy

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, expressed hope for a better approach to people seeking asylum in Australia. His address to the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness can be viewed here. The Refugee Council of Australia released the 2023 review of Australia’s refugee policy using the Refugee Response Index Methodology. Activists on the annual Palm Sunday rally called for permanent residency to the 12,000 people who were subject to the fast track assessment system.

In research

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute published the findings of their work with children in immigration detention. A study by Murdoch University and University of South Australia found that the people found Australia’s asylum process as distressing as the circumstances that led them to flee their homelands . A survey of over 27,00 people across 26 countries found that people prefer to admit more asylum seekers into their country rather than provide financial assistance to host countries. The University of Melbourne released the Behind the Wire report into people’s experience of indefinite detention by Australia.

New releases

Cruel Care, a book by Jordana Silverstein, published by Monash University Publishing.

From Bhutan to Blacktown, a book by Om Dhungel and James Button, published by NewSouth Books.

Watander: My Countryman, a film by Muzafar Ali and Jolyon Hoff, produced by Light Sound Art Film   

Monthly Wrap April 2023

In the media

Detention

A man, who cannot be returned to Egypt, faces indefinite detention on the basis of an ASIO assessment that he is a security risk. He is not allowed to see the information that ASIO has on him. Another man remains in detention two months after the AAT ruled that his visa should not have been cancelled. As a result, he missed the birth of his baby.

In the community

The number of people in Australia, who are awaiting a decision on their refugee claim or have had their claim rejected, reached a record 100,000. Asylum Insight’s recent explainer detailed some of the complications that delay or prevent refused asylum seekers from being deported. The Daily Telegraph published a story on how a security guard at the detention centre in Nauru fell in love with a refugee detained there. Their future remains uncertain while she remains on a bridging visa. Refugees living in a Melbourne accommodation complex, owned by St Vincents Care Services, were advised the units will be demolished at the end of the year.

International

Following the UK government’s introduction of controversial asylum policies, the BBC hosted a panel discussion on whether the asylum system is broken. The Danish Refugee Appeals Board declared the Syrian province of Latakia is safe for the return of refugees. More drownings occurred in March as people attempted crossings to Europe. Over a 4-week period around 100,000 Somali people fled into Ethiopia amid violent clashes and severe drought in their homeland. Thousands of refugees in a camp in Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) lost everything when a large fire ripped through the camp. The UNHCR called for support to the countries neighbouring Venezuela where more than 6 million Venezuelans have moved in recent years.

In policy

The Refugee Council of Australia facilitated the creation of the inaugural Parliamentary Friends of Refugees group, with independent MP Zoe Daniel as the inaugural Chair. The Greens party’s ‘Evacuation to Safety’ bill was defeated in Parliament. The Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness will host a presentation by Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner, Gillian Triggs, set out practical measures that governments could take to reduce the risk of refugees drowning at sea without compromising border security.

In research

Researchers found strong support among Australians and New Zealanders for the resettlement of Rohingya people. The data was extracted from a large global survey into attitudes towards various issues. Advocates have called for increased protection of Ukrainian refugees after a study found a significant increase in viewership of pornography that claims to involve Ukrainian refugees over the last six months.

New releases

Freedom, Only Freedom: the Prison Writings of Behrouz Boochani, published by Bloomsbury.