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.