Labor for Refugees (L4R) is a group of party members and trade unionists, formed in 2001, to advocate for progressive reforms to the Labor Party’s policies on refugees and people seeking asylum. We believe Australia must uphold humane, just, and effective policies for those who seek refuge.
L4R Branches exist in Queensland, NSW – ACT and Victoria. There are many hundreds of individual ALP Members who have committed to support our aims and many local Branches in each State who have pledged support. Our influence is evident in improvements to Labor’s National and State Platforms.
HUMANITARIAN REFUGEE INTAKE – PROPOSED MOTION BY LABOR FOR REFUGEES
The 2026 ALP National Conference celebrates Australia as a successful multicultural nation built on migration programs.
National Conference specifically celebrates the contribution to the nation of the now one million people who have come to Australia since World War 2 as refugees.
Conference notes the ever-increasing global numbers of displaced persons due to conflict and persecution but also acknowledges the economic challenges for Labor governments in maintaining a responsible refugee intake.
Conference again reaffirms the aspiration of Federal Labor to achieve a humanitarian refugee intake of 27,000 places per year from overseas locations in combination with a complementary resettlement intake pathway including community sponsorship of 10,000 places per year.
Conference congratulates the Albanese Labor Government since its election in 2022 for lifting the humanitarian refugee intake from 13,500 places per year under the previous Coalition Government to 20,000 places per year under Labor.
The 2026 National Conference calls on the Albanese Labor government to maintain the humanitarian refugee intake numbers at 20,000 places per year whilst continuing to progress towards achieving 27,000 places per year.
THE ALBANESE GOVERMENT’S RECORD
POLICY REFORMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The most significant achievement of the Government has been the provision of permanent residency to individuals who were previously languishing in crippling uncertainty under Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs). Following L4R’s advocacy, the government offered permanency to people in these groups. Approximately 25,000 people who held TPVs or SHEVs have been, or will soon be, granted permanent residency.
Similarly, since the second half of 2025, Federal Labor has been offering a pathway to permanent settlement to around 7,000 people treated unjustly under the former LNP government’s so-called ‘Fast Track’ visa application processing, which kept many vulnerable people in indefinite bridging visa limbo. L4R is hopeful that people in this group will have settlement certainty by early next year.
CONTINUING PROBLEMS
- PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY IN NAURU AND MANUS
The Government continues to refuse to permanently settle 800 or so individuals and families who were sent to Manus (PNG) and Nauru from 19 July 2013 but are now in Australia (so-called ‘Transitory Persons’). Some are medical evacuees and others were brought by Federal Labor to Australia. All require permanent settlement.
- HIGH COURT RULINGS, INDEFINITE DETENTION AND THE DEPORTATION BILL
The Labor Government’s approach to detention and deportation has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of recent High Court rulings. The Albanese Government rushed three unsatisfactory laws through Parliament to give itself new powers to force people to cooperate with deportation, to enter paid arrangements with third countries to accept people deported from Australia, and to limit people’s rights in immigration detention.
- THE SITUATION IN NAURU NOW
L4R is deeply concerned by Federal Labor’s two arrangements with the Republic of Nauru. The first is revival of Nauru as a place to process people seeking asylum in Australia who arrived at the sea border without a visa. As of 30 September 2025 there were, 91 asylum seekers in Nauru, according to the Refugee Council of Australia, using Home Affairs’ reports. Uncertainty remains around the future of refugees and people seeking asylum on Nauru.
The second arrangement with Nauru, set up in September 2025, allows the deportation to Nauru of non-citizens with adverse character assessments, who cannot be deported to their countries of origin, including refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
Both arrangements have been criticised by the UNHCR and Australian Human Rights organisations.
- REFUGEES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG)
The situation in PNG is equally troubling. L4R understands that, as at June 2026, there are 56 refugees living in Port Moresby (24 men who were originally sent to Manus Island from 19 July 2013, together with twelve partners and 20 children). Of those 8–10 are known to be so mentally unwell that they cannot engage with any settlement processes. An Australia-based small private charity has supported this group for many years, through financial aid and visits. Federal Labor did provide some support for them until April 2026 but will not re-settle any of them in Australia (the 2013 Rudd rule). Some await resettlement in New Zealand and Canada, which may happen but is very slow.
The Australian Government maintains that the future of these refugees now lies with PNG authorities and the UNHCR, which works to provide permanent settlement in other countries. Given the USA de-funding of UNHCR and the increasing trend across first world countries to reduce refugee settlement, third country settlement looks increasingly unlikely. L4R has repeatedly expressed its concerns to the Federal Government, particularly regarding vulnerable individuals who are physically and/or mentally unwell who cannot engage with the UNHCR process and need to be medivaced to Australia. Labor for Refugees continues to press for urgent humanitarian solutions.
- WORK AND STUDY RIGHTS
Labor’s 2023 National Platform affirms that people on bridging visas should have work and study rights while their asylum applications are processed. In practice many continue to encounter barriers to employment, education, housing and healthcare. 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. Consequently, non-residents are locked out of work and mainstream social services and there is no safety net in place to prevent destitution and homelessness. Charities and frontline asylum services are left to fill the gap. These services are stretched beyond capacity and rely heavily on donations and community goodwill. RCOA noted that in the May 2026 Budget a planned reduction in the Federal SRSS funding allocation did not proceed and that for 2026-27, the actual funding spent on SRSS in 2025-26 would continue.
THE PATH FORWARD
The Albanese Government has taken important steps toward a more humane and just refugee policy, but the journey is far from complete. The plight of refugees and asylum seekers—whether stranded offshore, mired in bureaucratic delays, or struggling to access essential services—demands continued vigilance and advocacy. L4R remains committed to holding the government accountable and ensuring that Australia meets its obligations to the world’s most vulnerable people, upholds its international commitments and builds a society rooted in fairness, dignity and hope for all who seek safety on its shore.
Key priorities moving forward include:
- Securing permanent and humane solutions for those Australia sent to Nauru after May 2022 and still in Nauru, and those Australians sent to PNG (Manus) after 19 July 2013 and still in PNG, most urgently the physically and mentally unwell.
- Securing safe permanent settlement of refugees currently in Indonesia who arrived over 10 years ago.
- Facilitating family re-unions wherever possible in cases where people seeking asylum and refugees already have close relatives in Australia.
- Providing pathways to permanency for all refugees living in Australia, including former detainees in Manus and Nauru, on indefinite bridging visas.
- Restoring subsistence income support and expanding access to work, healthcare, education and housing, including for new arrivals.
- Safeguarding legal rights and opposing any legislative measures that risk arbitrary or indefinite detention and forced deportations.
- Increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake.
- Ensuring robust consultation with refugee communities, advocacy groups and stakeholders in the ongoing reform of refugee policy.
Authorised by Nizza Siano, National Secretary, Labor for Refugees.
For further information, to purchase merchandise or join Labor for Refugees email contact@labor4refugees.com
- https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/operation-sovereign-borders-offshore-detention-statistics/3/
- Please contact L4R if you are interested in donating to this group
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