Category: Uncategorized

In October 2024, the Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, with various new objectives, features, processes and powers. In December 2024 the Administrative Review Council was re-established with an objective of monitoring and advising on the operation and integrity of Australia’s administrative law system. These developments reflect a significant (re) commitment to the values and principles which underpinned the administrative law reforms of the 1970s.In this seminar Professor Margaret Allars SC, Chair of the Administrative Review Council and Simone Burford, Deputy President and Jurisdictional Lead – Protection of the ART will explore the first six months of the new Tribunal’s operation, and the prospects for the revived ARC.

This online seminar (via Zoom) is hosted by the UNSW Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (NSW).

Jenny HainesNovember 20, 2025Uncategorized

Meeting with Immigration Minister Tony Burke  Our L4R National Co-ordinating Committee (NCC), met with the Immigration Minister on 15 October last.   The following report was compiled by our NSW/ACT Co-Convenor Lauren Honcope. L4R National Co-ordinating Committee Meeting with the Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke on Wednesday 15 October 2025, at his electoral office in Punchbowl.In attendance for L4R NCC – NCC Secretary Nizza Siano, NCC NSW members Jenny Haines (NSW/ACT Co-Convenor), Sabrin Farooqui (NSW/ACT Senior Vice-President), NCC ACT member Lauren Honcope (NSW/ACT Co-Convenor), NCC Qld member Hanne Worsoe (Convenor L4R Qld). In attendance with the Minister – Rachelle Harika (electoral office) and Ann Clark (Ministerial staffer, virtually, via screen). Topics covered and who spoke to them – 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

Next Year’s NSW and National ALP Conferences 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 77th 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.

Jenny HainesOctober 22, 2025Uncategorized

Meeting with Immigration Minister Tony Burke  Our L4R National Co-ordinating Committee, managed to secure a meeting with the Immigration Minister which will take place this morning the 15 October.

We have prioritised the issues we wish to raise with the Minister and will follow up some of the topics of concern we have conveyed to him through our letters over the past 12 months.  The outcome of our meeting will be reported to members at our Zoom meeting next Wednesday evening.  Please try to attend.  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.

5 August 2022   The ‘Biloela’/Nadesalingam family settled in Biloela, Queensland

29 October 2022  Australian women and children being repatriated from Al Hawl and al-Roj camps in  Northern Syria

19 November 2022 Travel outside Australia possible for holders of temporary visas

10 February 2023 Family reunion pathway restored for some refugees

12 February 2023 The end of temporary visas for refugees

25 June 2023 Last of Nauru detainees brought to Australia (but sadly more people seeking asylum imprisoned on Nauru since September 2023)

10 September 2023 Neil Para granted permanent residency after walk from Ballarat

5 October 2023 Labor to prioritise new asylum seeker claims

16 December 2023 Enhanced support for refugees globally

30 January 2024 Establishment of the Refugee Advisory Panel

11 October 2024 NSW Labor Government announces major funding boost for Asylum Seekers Centre

You probably know about AdsUp, a group of expats in the US helping Australia’s refugees with resettlement in the US. They are also active in Canada, and trying to secure freedom for people through the sponsorship program there. They are asking for support, so please help if you can.

Update:

Working with Ads-Up USA, I’m privileged to help Manus and Nauru refugees facing desperate situations in America — but the most emotionally wrenching part of the job is speaking with refugees who are still trapped in intolerable situations on Manus and Nauru.

Despite their resilience and fortitude, the combination of isolation, sub-standard medical care and having no clear future ahead of them is crushing and often overwhelming.

That’s why I’m thrilled that an absolutely wonderful couple of donors in Tasmania have agreed to match all September donations to Ads-Up Canada’s resettlement work, up to $20,000.If you haven’t yet done so, please chip in now to double your impact >>

Our 2020-21 plan to increase Ads-Up Canada’s resettlement capacity is ambitious but necessary. Together, we need to ensure we’re doing all we can to end the Manus/Nauru nightmare for good. 

If you have ideas about virtual or in-person fundraising events (COVID-permitting) please get in touch with me at Contact@Ads-Up.org.

We have the ability to create personal and organizational donation pages, if you or a local group would like to set your own fundraising target and work towards it. 

I’ve seen first-hand what we’re capable of when we all pull together, and I’m excited to speak with anyone and everyone who wants to get more involved in helping us meet this important goal!

April Tafe

Labor for Refugees Supporters and Friends:

A motion opposing the Anti Fairness Bill follows.  You may find it useful for your L4R group and may also decide to run a campaign around it. 

DRAFT MOTION FOR ALP BRANCHES –

1. THE ANTI FAIRNESS ACT (the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Act 2025 – the Anti-Fairness Act)
2. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF a 30 year AUSTRALIAN CONVICT COLONY in NAURU

MOTION

This Branch calls on the Labor Government to –

1. Make public as a matter of urgency the MOU with Nauru to establish a 30 year, Australian funded penal colony for effectively stateless non-citizens with criminal records and/or character traits that the Minister does not want in Australia.
2. Make public any request made by the Commonwealth to the UNHCR and any response from the UNHCR as mandated by the 2023 ALP Platform (page 141, at paragraph 5).
3. State why all Australian Territories and States cannot cope with the non-citizens in the targeted cohort, given that all jurisdictions have established criminal justice and post-penal systems for citizens.
4. Make public the alternatives that were considered by the government to the MOU with Nauru and the Anti-Fairness Act.
5. If no alternatives were considered, commit to a public enquiry into and report on alternatives.
6. Commit to not transporting any non-citizen to Nauru unless and until all reasonable measures have been taken by the Commonwealth, with Australian criminal justice and post-release professional partners, to rehabilitate, treat and settle that specific non-citizen in Australia to the same extent as is provided for a like citizen;  and to making a public statement, tabled in the Parliament and sent to the Government of Nauru, setting out those reasonable measures and stating that they failed in relation to that non-citizen.
7. Commit to establishing an independent Australian public visitor to Nauru to assess the situation of the very few non-citizens who were impossible for Australia to settle and so were transported to Nauru, and to report back to Parliament within one month of the visit in relation to each transportee.

BACKGROUND

The Government passed the Anti-Fairness Bill on 4th September 2025.

In terms of values and principles, the new law will circumvent Australia’s own rules of natural justice and procedural fairness when deporting people to Nauru and potentially other countries. It undermines our federal ALP platform, at 5.6, that Labor believes that Australia’s human rights obligations should be adhered to and understood by all Australians. Labor has a majority of seats in the parliament – 94 in fact. Added to that, the Liberal National Coalition are in disarray. There is no longer a Peter Dutton or a Tony Abbott in opposition. There is therefore no need to respond to their racist, dog-whistling ways.

This Bill has the potential to remove basic legal protections central to Australia’s democratic system, allowing the Government to forcibly deport people without warning; there will be no obligation to consider their health needs, or if they potentially face persecution or serious harm in the countries to which they are removed. This law has the worst aspects of Australia’s punitive offshore regime. Crucially, we may see the indefinite separation of families, including separation from family members who are Australian citizens.

When people are sent indefinitely against their will to a small island like Nauru: those deported will suffer greatly and their physical and mental health will worsen. The Australian Human Rights Commission has systematically documented such past disregards for human rights. Moreover, Nauru is a dysfunctional island state whose government has been associated with corruption.

The new law is a steep cost to taxpayers: $408 million paid to Nauru in the first year of a new offshore arrangement, with $70 million to be paid for each subsequent year – a total of $2.5 billion over 30 years. It would be far cheaper to rehabilitate people within Australia, or recommend that they stay in jail, if they reoffend and their crimes are serious.

With the passing of this Bill, people of refugee backgrounds are feeling scared and vulnerable. The bill says that you are never truly Australian if you have come from elsewhere.

The Government has said these laws will apply to a small group of people; however, the legislation is written broadly and could easily be used by future governments to detain or remove a much wider group of people. This is very dangerous. The laws are a slippery slope to future abuse.

Labor Party policies state that our laws should uphold fairness and justice, supporting the rights of all those in Australia, no matter what their origins. This is in alignment with our federal Labor Platform, the values of humane Australians and International human rights law.  If we want a progressive mainstream party in government, we must oppose this type of dangerous cruel policy.

Motion to be sent to:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Write to:

The Hon Anthony Albanese MPPrime MinisterParliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

FOR LABOR FOR REFUGEES MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.

FRINGE EVENT ONLINE. Fringe Events were not held at the NSW ALP Conference in 2024. The Labor for Refugees Fringe Event is now being held online on 27th November 2024 at 6.30pm

Please join us for our online L4R Fringe Event “ASYLUM MATTERS”

Speakers include :

· Dr Graham Thom, international refugee specialist

· Frances Rush OAM, Asylum Seekers Centre CEO

· Thouraya Lahmadi, refugee and writer

We have never witnessed a global displacement crisis or a local poverty crisis for people seeking asylum like those we face today.In this session, international refugee specialist Dr. Graham Thom, Asylum Seekers Centre CEO Frances Rush OAM, and refugee and writer Thouraya Lahmadi will unpack the trends, insights, and experiences that must shape refugee policy in Australia.

From exploring the High Court’s ruling on immigration detention to highlighting the stark reality for a person seeking safety without a safety net, this session will highlight what we must do in order to provide protection for those who need it.

There will be time for questions at the end.

If you wish to receive the Zoom link for this event please email Nizza SianoThe Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event.We welcome existing and new members as well as anyone who is interested inhearing what we can do to address the crisis which we face today, of global

displacement and a local poverty crisis for people seeking asylum.

Contributed to this site by Robin Rothfield, former National Convenor, Labor for Refugees

I came across a more recent episode of filoxenia on Zakynthos. In the first week of November 2001, a Turkish-flagged boat, the Brenier, carrying 714 Iraqi Kurds and Afghan refugees, broke down in the lonian Sea. Abandoned by its crew, the ship was rescued by the Greek coast guard.

The Brenier was towed to Zakynthos Town. As the crowded boat moved towards the port, the townsfolk lined the waterfront and cheered. The local baker was waiting with 700 sandwiches. Others residents brought food, clothes and blankets. Pregnant women and babies were ferried to hospital, or housed in hotels.

Observers were stunned by this outpouring of empathy. It convinced wary Greek officials to treat the new arrivals humanely. A number of families who arrived on the Brenier have since been provided a home on the island.

When I heard of this incident I recalled my night journeys on the Ionian Sea. My lasting impression of Zakynthos is of a glow of lights approaching in the dark. I think of our treatment of strangers, here in Australia, in recent years. At the time the Brenier was being towed into Zakynthos, off the north-west coast of Australia, asylum seekers were being turned back out to sea.

Catherine CrittendenJuly 28, 2020Uncategorized

Can you help Shan? He is currently in the Mantra Prison in Melbourne, but with sufficient funds donated, he could be sponsored to live in freedom in Canada. L4R member Jill Horton explains how here.

Next L4R meeting in June

Please attend our meeting to discuss where to now, after Labor’s win in the recent election.  Labor can no longer hide behind the fear that it will be wedged by the Coalition if it dares to implement its own refugee policies, adopted at the ALP National Conference in 2023. 

Issues that deal with refugees, must no longer be treated as the ‘elephant in the room’, just because refugees did not feature as a priority in the election campaign.

The Minutes of our previous meeting dated 28 May follow MinutesNSW-ACT28May25

Ride for Education – update in the lead up to Refugee Week
The Cisarua Learning Centre in Indonesia is fundraising for the Centre and for women in Afghanistan with Muzafar Ali and his team’s marathon bike ride.

The epic journey continues.  They are currently heading down to Moruya for a screening of The Staging Post.Yesterday (Tuesday), they had a beautiful event in Canberra and a hugely significant visit to the Embassy of Afghanistan.The Embassy, as seen by the mulit-coloured flag, still represents the Republic of Afghanistan and not the Taliban Regime.

Muzafar spoke strongly for women’s education and freedom which is restricted by the Taliban.

There are plenty more events in Canberra and the south.  They hope you can make it out to see them at one of their events in Victoria & South Australia.
 

Members of the team participating in this ride, are overwhelmed by the love and encouragement they have received and have asked you to consider joining the WhatsApp Group or Instagram to follow them. There’s been dancing, films, feasts, friends and plenty of riding!
 

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE A DONATION.  DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. HELP POWER THEM THROUGH TO ADELAIDE — SUPPORT THE RIDE HERE

Basic route information follows https://rideforeducation.com/route 

High Court challenge launched for man facing deportation to Nauru

Everybody deserves to live with dignity and fairness, regardless of visa status.But refugees and migrants are being singled out for harsher treatment by Australia’s cruel migration laws. The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) has filed proceedings in the High Court on behalf of one man. Please read the following article published by the HRLC.https://www.hrlc.org.au/updates/deportation-challenge/  2 April 2025

Skills recognition of Refugees

 An Australian Institute of Family Studies report tracking the long-term employment of refugees showed that almost half of all those previously working as managers and professionals are, 10 years later, still not working in those kinds of jobs in Australia. The study surveyed about 2,400 humanitarian migrants over a decade. The report recommended more coordinated recognition of skills and qualifications gained overseas, as well as inclusive recruitment practices and language support.

The persistent employment struggles of refugees’ (audio), SBS 11 June 2025Almost half of refugees suffering from ‘occupational downgrade’ 10 years after settling  ABC News 11 June 2025You may recall that Labor for Refugees ran a campaign last year re this issue and wrote to Federal and State Ministers about the urgent need to fast track skilled refugees.  The motion we asked our members to take to their branches to support, was circulated including the background information.   

The link to the motion follows

L4RNSW-ACTSkillsRecognitionRefugeesOct 24

It’s not too late to endorse this motion at your next branch meeting.  It can then be submitted to the next NSW ALP Conference as an agenda item.  Also to the next ACT Conference.

Hopefully, this report may ignite some interest from our politicians, and prompt them to address this issue which would benefit these refugees/migrants as well as our wider community.

Nizza SianoSecretary L4R NSW

email: 

 contact@labor4refugees.com