Month: February 2026

“A Coalition government decision to slash income support for community-based asylum seekers has forced hundreds more to access emergency housing and food banks.”

The wait for a resolution to the status of some of these people seeking asylum, has led many of them to a life in limbo and uncertainty, created trauma and is compounded by the fact that many are denied access to Centrelink, fluctuating Medicare cover and diminishing work rights.  This leaves people seeking asylum at risk of homelessness and destitution.  It leads people to face impossible choices every day.We have lobbied the Federal Labor Government since 2019, to have these payments restored.  Since then, there has been a surge in asylum seekers needing welfare assistanceWe also believe that our State Government is responsible for accommodation and emergency health care so we have drafted a motion for branch members to support and submit to the NSW Conference.  The deadline for submitting motions to the relevant Policy Committee is Friday 3 April 2026.  That leaves us only two full months of February and March, for branch meetings to be held before the deadline. We urge you to have this motion debated at your next branch meeting and if supported, to have your Branch Secretary forward it to the relevant bodies listed at the end of our motion. The motion follows.

 HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT SHOULD BE BASED ON NEED AND NOT VISA STATUS

The NSW Labor Government Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035 acknowledges that the right to housing is a basic human right.  The Strategy estimates that more than 35,000 people are experiencing homelessness in NSW.  There is an increase of 27% between the censuses carried out in 2011 and 2021.The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) reported in 2025 that in the City of Sydney alone, nearly 20% of people sleeping rough are non-residents on uncertain visas, including asylum seekers.Over the years, successive Federal Governments have reduced Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) funding and eligibility and removed many non-residents’ work rights and access to Medicare, while the NSW State Government has excluded non-residents from homelessness support.  Consequently, non-residents are locked out of mainstream social services and there is no safety net in place to prevent destitution and homelessness.  The RCOA reported that currently, charities and frontline asylum services are left to fill the gap.  They provide food, emergency accommodation, rent assistance, transport and healthcare but with little or no government funding.  These services are stretched beyond capacity and rely heavily on donations and community goodwill.The Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) reported in 2024 that homelessness is detrimental to the welfare and mental health of non-residents.  Subsequently, this affects their ability to lodge and progress visa applications. This motion is about giving all non-residents and asylum seekers access to homelessness support. No one should be excluded based on their visa status! 

MOTION

(This ….… branch/SEC) recognises that the right to housing is a human right.  To ensure that everyone is eligible for homelessness support, we call on the NSW Labor Government to include non-residents and asylum seekers in the NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035. 

Send to:NSW Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Rose Jackson MLC at office@jackson.minister.nsw.gov.auYour SECBranch/SEC Secretaries to submit motion to NSW Labor through the Online Policy Motions Portal by the deadline of 3 April 2026.You can access a PDF copy of the motion at L4RNSWStateConferenceMotion2026 Hope to see you online at our 25 February meeting.

1.  Visa Backlog/Legacy caseload from previous government’s so-called ‘Fast Track’ system and recent information concerning pathways through Ministerial Intervention, for permanent settlement – Lauren2. The very poor health status of a few of the remaining men in the PNG (Manus) cohort who are still in Port Moresby – Hanne3. Nauru – the severe health risks and the policy problems of the Labor government’s – 

(a) continuing use of Nauru as a location that Australia sends people, who try to reach Australia by boat to claim asylum; and(b) new use of Nauru as a place of permanent settlement of non-citizens with ‘character issues’ – L4R’s longstanding opposition to offshoring of any kind. Jenny spoke on this.4. The 2023 ALP Platform – 4 KEY Policies in the 2023 ALP National Platform Commitments which have not progressed so far, and on which we sought an update:

(a) Legislating the “90 Day Rule” – at 2023 Platform, page 141, para 7 and page 142 para 8.h – when will we see in this Parliament, ALP Legislation to enact this ALP Platform commitment to 90 day Rule?

(b)  Establishing a Parliamentary Inquiry into Immigration Detention – at 2023 Platform page 141 paragraph 4 – will this be established prior to 2026 National Conference? The NCC has written to the Attorney- General about this.

(c)  Establishment of a Special Envoy for refugees – at 2023 Platform, page 134 paragraph 11 – will this Special  Envoy be appointed prior to 2026 National Conference?

(d)  What are the Second Albanese Labor Government’s Attitudes/Plans in relation to Platform commitments to aspiring to 27,000 government funded Humanitarian places per year – at 2023 Platform, page 138, paragraph 8. L4R recently wrote to the Immigration Minister about increasing the intake to 50,000 within five years. Lauren spoke on item 4. 

Summary of meetingThe meeting went smoothly, thanks to Sabrin’s organisation beforehand and management of time on topics in the meeting. 

The Minister and staff were welcoming and friendly, as we would expect. They are clearly also very busy.

 The Minister is, of course, very senior (he is manager of business in the House as well as his Ministerial roles) and highly experienced, including in this portfolio, which he briefly held in 2013 when Kevin Rudd was PM the second time.He was very interested to know the issues of concern to L4R and quickly addressed the issues from his perspective as Minister. He clearly stated his strong policy preferences that differ from those of L4R (notably re PNG and Nauru). He was very helpful re the current program of providing visa certainty for people in legacy caseload(s). He was interested in the 4 Platform items we raised with him but non-committal, saying that he would meet with L4R representatives again. I think we established a rapport and some trust. The meeting lasted 30 minutes (11am to 11.30am).Lauren HoncopeCo-Convenor

L4R NSW/ACT

NSW Conference 4 and 5 JulyWe need to decide about which issue L4R should advocate at the 2026 NSW ALP Conference.  It should be something which can make a positive contribution for refugees and people seeking asylum in NSW.  It would be good to see if we can improve their lives, particularly if they are struggling financially.  One issue could be the restoration of the Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS).

The SRSS provides a basic temporary payment to non-citizens who cannot support themselves while waiting for a resolution to their immigration claim. Designed as a “safety net” and first implemented in 1992 as the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme, the payments were essential for people whose visas forbade them to work, or who were sick or parenting young children. Since the safety net was established, a number of policy changes have been made. Successive governments have cut funding by 93 per cent.

 One in five people sleeping rough in the inner city has uncertain visa status, according to data from the City of Sydney. The Asylum Seekers Centre now estimates every second person seeking help from its centre is either homeless or at serious risk of homelessness. On a daily basis, staff are seeing people who are homeless with no access to work, Medicare or basic services. People arrive at the centre after having slept in the CBD, Parramatta, in parks or streets. Staff attend to mothers with children arriving at the centre after having spent the night at a train station.  National Conference 23, 24 & 25 August

We have already commenced working on Labor’s National Platform in the lead up to the 2026 ALP National Conference and will advocate for the Labor Government to meet its commitment and implement the refugee policies that L4R negotiated for and won at the 2023 National Conference.  Four of these policies are mentioned in the Report of our recent meeting with the Immigration Minister, Tony Burke. We are also currently speaking to those ALP Members who were recently elected to the National Policy Forum (NPF), asking them to advocate for our L4R policies. In NSW, we have already met with Linda Scott, who was the past Co-Convenor of L4R.  Linda nominated and ran in the NPF election on a platform that included support for our L4R policies.The problem is that we need to cut through and impress upon Labor MPs, the importance of supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.   We are aware that refugees are not uppermost in the minds of Labor politicians (except of course if something controversial happens).  The lack of interest in improving the circumstances for refugees living in Australia and towards those desperately fleeing their countries, who would like to settle in Australia, is most likely a reflection of how the community prioritises refugees.   Our community is more focused on their own economic woes, housing and the environment, than on the plight of refugees.Secondly, there were no time-lines included in the National Platform commitments made in 2023, so the Government is able to defer the implementation of these policies and focus on what it believes are more important issues.  The implementation of some of these policies are also reliant on the allocation of funds so that’s another challenge we face.  Another reason refugees don’t feature prominently by the Government is that the Government would like refugees to stay out of sight and therefore, out of mind.  The government does not wish to provide the Coalition and right-wing media, with ammunition to wedge it as the Coalition has tried to do each time refugees are in the limelight.  L4R believes that with the Coalition in such chaos and the Labor Government still in the early stage of its three year term, the government can afford to implement reforms, without fearing the adverse reaction it may attract.  For far too long, we have used the excuse that we cannot afford to be controversial when it comes to refugees, because it might undermine Labor’s chance of winning at election time.  Well if now is not the time to be bold, when will it ever be the appropriate time for a Labor Government to introduce reforms?

Labor for Refugees Victoria – newsletterI recommend reading the recent newsletter compiled by L4R Victoria as it’s full of useful and interesting information and focuses on the Albanese Government’s record on refugees and people seeking asylum.  The link follows L4RVicNewsletterNov25 Report of Kaldor Centre Conference 23 October 2025 – Building Bridges: Advanced Refugee Protection in a Divided World This year’s Kaldor Centre Conference arrived at a fateful time for refugee protection. Displacement is rising by the millions. Funding is vanishing by the billions. Political divides are deepening around the world. Now more than ever, we need to pause, reflect and forge new paths forward – together.  

The 2025 Kaldor Centre Conference brought together policymakers, practitioners, scholars, civil society and people with lived experience of displacement – to ask the hard questions, share expertise and build practical solutions.  The Kaldor Centre described the conference as “a vital meeting point for everyone working to shape refugee policy and practice”.

  L4R member Cath Crittenden attended this Conference and took notes in point form which she made available to us.  Her notes follow: ·        It’s not rewriting the Refugee Convention that is needed; it is connection, fair and fast procedures, and responsibility sharing.·        Crucial to include people with lived experience when developing policy (nothing about us without us).

Mohammed Naeem, Senior Director for Advocacy Strategy, Refugees International:·        there are leaders, and there are those who lead; we need to remain hopeful; a shared understanding of the issues is failing, and so is shared responsibility; we are reckoning with a crisis of trust; we need a bridge in an age which profits from breaking (clearly the Trump administration front of mind); but citizens are not as polarised as politicians. We need to show that caring works; we need to make the case for the benefits to society of good refugee policy; we need refugee leaders in discussions. One third of Americans have contact with a refugee. The system is not broken, it’s overburdened. We’re too ready to absorb ideas that are constantly repeated; we experience confirmation bias. There is power in listening, even if you don’t agree, but we look for shared values. Community sponsorship programs are excellent at building bridges.

James Jegasothy, Deputy CEO, Multicultural NSW;  Hugh de Kretser, President Australian Human Rights Commission:·        New deal with Nauru, no procedural fairness and heart-breaking human cost.·        There is a better way. Safe pathways to protection. Work with regional countries, save lives at sea, support the UNHCR, increase the refugee intake (Australia currently 77^th in the world relative to GDP); increase complementary pathways. Be more humane, lead others, don’t follow. Promote peace.·        Australia has a strong multicultural culture, but we can’t be complacent about racism.·        We need to establish a Human Rights Act; we need to promote the National Anti-Racism Framework.·        We need to listen to refugees tell their stories; that way, understanding and empathy will develop.These are wise words and the world would be a more compassionate place if we all heeded them. Australia, International Law and Armed Conflict:  What are our obligations? You would have received an email from us early this month, inviting you to this important event which takes place next week on Thursday 27 November.  You will need to register to attend.The details are outlined in the leaflet which you can access using the following link IntLawArmedConflictevent27Nov25

I hope to see you at our Zoom meeting next Wednesday – the last for this year.

Increase Australia’s humanitarian intake

On the 23 September last, we wrote to the Immigration Minister Tony Burke, in support of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s (ASRC) campaign to increase Australia’s humanitarian intake to 50,000 places within 5 years.  Currently, Labor’s National Platform states “Labor aspires to progressively increase Australia’s government funded humanitarian intake to 27,000 places per year”.

We believe that there is a critical need for increased intake given the record numbers of displaced people globally.

Our reasons for urging this increase, can be read in our letter to the Minister L4RIncreaseRefugeeNos23Sep25

Financial Assistance Sought

Some of those refugees who are being transitioned by the Government from Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas to permanency, are experiencing financial hardship.  There are a number who are not eligible to access Medicare or claim Centrelink benefits for four years after receiving permanent visas so are experiencing poverty and are struggling.  We have written to the Immigration Minister, asking him if there is a possibility of short-term access to special benefits for those demonstrating hardship.  Our letter follows L4RFinancialHardship1Oct25

We hope you can make it to our meeting next week.