Latest News

2012-13 Submission on the Refugee and Humanitarian Program

RCOA's annual submission on Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program is now available for download here.

2012-14 Refugee Week theme: 'Restoring Hope'

RCOA has chosen 'Restoring Hope' as the Refugee Week theme for 2012 to 2014. For further details, visit the Refugee Week website.

Plight of refugees with adverse ASIO findings raised with Canberra

RCOA has written to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon on the predicament of recognised refugees who remain in immigration detention because of adverse ASIO findings. Read the letter here.

Nauru is not an option

RCOA acted strongly to reject any return to offshore processing in Nauru following revelations the Federal Government was willing to negotiate with the Opposition on asylum seeker policy. Read our media release.

Refugee and asylum seeker policy on a positive pathway

RCOA has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government that it had begun to wind back its policy of indefinite mandatory detention for asylum seekers who enter Australia by boat. Read our media release.

Detention of asylum seekers

Australia's system of mandatory indefinite detention is in urgent need of reform.

Read more about: Mandatory detention

Follow @OzRefugeeCounc

Media releases

2012

17 February	Victoria to showcase refugee resettlement services
17 February	The Daily Telegraph wrong about asylum seekers
1 February	Australia urged to take lead on resettlement
2011
22 December	Nauru is no solution
25 November	Refugee and asylum seeker policy on a positive pathway
22 November	Public forum to celebrate Refugee Council of Australia’s 30th
17 October	Resettlement freeze sends wrong message
14 October	Migration changes a positive start
23 September	Regional refugee protection framework vital
19 September	Complementary protection legislation passed
16 September	Limits to immigration detention urged
12 September	Refugee protections ignored in offshore revival
5 September	ACT takes lead on asylum seeker support
31 August	Refugee Council welcomes High Court ruling
19 August	Manus Island deal is Pacific Solution 2.0
26 July	Australia - Malaysia deal undermines regional push for protection
24 June	A better way: A risk based approach to immigration detention
20 June	UN refugee figures show asylum fears unfounded
17 June	Refugee Week marks search for freedom from fear
2 June	Detention inquiry a good start but action needed
26 May	Urgent need for detention reform highlighted yet again
8 May	Malaysia's appalling rights record ignored in refugee transfer deal
6 May	Manus detention plan undermines international cooperation
5 May	Opposition plumbs new depths in attack on refugee arrivals
27 April	Increase in long-term detention at heart of unrest
14 April	Scrutiny of detention welcomed
5 April	New detention centre: Same problems, more cost
28 March	Australian aid and resettlement critical to Bali Process talks
15 March	Detention needs overhaul not band-aid fix
4 March	Government gets it wrong with more detention centres
24 February	Bill offers greater protection for vulnerable people
7 January	A missed opportunity to scrap an unfair system

2010

22 December	Refugee arrests in Thailand highlight struggle for protection in South-East Asia
15 December	Christmas Island tragedy
14 December	No Afghan returns without safety measures
11 November	High Court ruling a critical step towards fairer asylum system
18 October	Refugee Council welcomes plans to release children from detention
11 October	Refugee Council supports call to release children from detention
30 September	Refugee Council welcomes lifting of suspension
17 September	Time to review detention policy
3 August	Four Corners report highlights need for more effective regional response to refugees
2 August	Australia cannot act alone on asylum boats
6 July	International cooperation and natural justice critical to new regional refugee processing proposal
23 June	UNHCR statistics expose spin on asylum issues
21 June	Need to look for solutions during Refugee Week 2010
27 May	Coalition policies a return to punishing vulnerable people
6 May	People smuggling inquiry ignores advice
5 May	International NGOs highlight damage caused by Australian suspension of asylum claims
18 April	Reopening Curtin a step backwards for reform
9 April	Halt in refugee processing creates detention concerns
3 April	Simplistic political rhetoric undermines efforts to protect victims of persecution
24 March	Response to latest UNHCR statistics on asylum applications in industrialised countries
24 February	Release of 2010-11 Intake Submission: Australia urged to take greater leadership in refugee resettlement
23 February	Entrepreneurial refugees bring economic and social benefits to Australia: new report
29 January	Senator Fielding all wrong on detention

2009

17 November	RCOA's statement on the situation of asylum seekers aboard the Merak boat
8 November	RCOA calls for a humane resolution to the Oceanic Viking impasse
17 October	RCOA calls for no scaremongering
8 September	Refugee Council welcomes passing of Immigration Detention Debt Abolition Bill
24 June	Refugee Council calls for a strengthened humanitarian response to ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka
19 June	UNHCR figures highlight need to support host countries
15 June	New report highlights refugees' struggle to find protection
11 June	Refugees to share stories of fear and freedom at Refugee Week launches
10 June	NSW Refugee Week ambassadors share stories
3 June	Refugee Week: June 14-20, Australians to celebrate refugees' freedom from fear
13 May	Federal Budget 2009-10: Common sense changes build fairer refugee determination process
20 April	Refugee Council calls for humane and moral response to unauthorised boat arrivals
17 April	Refugee Council calls for rational public debate in wake of asylum seeker boat tragedy

2008

8 December	Opposition rewrites history with claims about temporary protection
16 August	New high security detention centre unsuitable for asylum seekers
29 July	Detention changes help to restore Australia's human rights record
11 July	Proust report release a valuable step in dialogue about asylum changes
11 June	Les Murray AM - a refugee kid who became Australia's face of football
5 June	Refugee Week - June 15-21, 2008: A Place to Call Home
13 May	Ending Temporary Protection: another step in vital reforms
13 May	Controversy highlights need to reform refugee determination system
8 February	Closure of Nauru detention centre welcomed

2007

10 December	Refugee Council welcomes beginning of the end of the 'Pacific Solution'
2 October	Kevin Andrews' comments on African intake undermine refugee program
2 October	Response to outlandish claims about benefits to refugees
12 September	Decision on 72 asylum seekers on Nauru welcomed
17 August	Refugee Council welcomes closure of Baxter Detention Centre
14 June	Refugee Week marks contribution of young refugees
9 May	Refugee Council response to 2007-08 Federal Budget
9 May	Steps towards resettling asylum seekers from Indonesia welcomed
18 April	Asylum swap with US denies Australia's regional obligations
28 March	Denial of legal help on Nauru increases chance of people being returned to persecution
15 March	Nauru decision another sorry chapter in Australia's treatment of asylum seekers
26 February	RCOA's key concerns about Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Christmas Island
24 February	Call for fair hearing for Sri Lankan asylum seekers
5 February	RCOA seeks Government assurance on African refugee resettlement
17 January	RCOA welcomes Tamworth Council's review of decision on refugee resettlement

2006

15 December	Call for Tamworth Council to reconsider rejection of refugee resettlement
7 December	RCOA condemns Pauline Hanson's cowardly attacks on African Australians
6 December	Commonwealth Ombudsman's reports on wrongful detention welcomed
17 October	Refugee Week begins
16 October	RCOA welcomes Labor Party's review of Temporary Protection Visa policy
14 August	RCOA welcomes withdrawal of Migration Bill
10 August	Parliamentary vote on Migration Bill diminishes Australia's reputation
8 August	RCOA urges inquiry into deaths of failed asylum seekers
14 June	Senate committee's rejection of Migration Bill welcomed
29 May	Call to reactivate Safe Haven visa for East Timorese
21 April	RCOA appoints new CEO
18 April	Further concern that Federal Government is flouting Refugee Convention to appease Indonesia
11 April	Concern that Federal Government's current review of Australia's refugee obligations will breach 1951 Refugee Convention
30 March	Commonwealth Ombudsman recommends the release of 'Mr X', the longest serving detainee
1 February	Concerning PKK listing as a terrorist organisation
24 January	Concerning Arrival of West Papuans
5 January	Call for Justice for Asylum Seekers in Cairo

2005

15 July	Refugee Council of Australia calls for a judicial inquiry into immigration detention and removals
20-22 July	June Detention Reforms
6 June	Refugee Council of Australia calls on all political parties to support detention bills
23 March	Refugee Council responds to creation of new visa class for detainees

2004

13 July	Announcement welcome but fails to address fundamental problems of TPVs
13 May	Child-friendly Government? RCOA response to HREOC report: “A Last Resort?”
12 May	Refugee Council welcomes committment to refugee settlement in Federal Budget
23 March	RCOA welcomes increase in refugee numbers
12 March	Call for increase in size of Humanitarian Program
23 January	ALP Policy on TPVs: A step in the right direction

2003

14 November	Refugee Council Decries: 'This is not the Australian Way'
6 November	Council laments disproportionate excision policy
20 March	Commitment of troops to Iraq
12 March	Forced return of Iranian asylum seekers
5 March	RCOA supports East Timorese Bill

2002

19 December	Trying to defend the indefensible
3 December	RCOA welcomes ALP refugee policy initatives
8 August	Call for a judical inquiry into the operation of the Refugee Review Tribunal
1 August	Government unwise to ignore UN Refugee Report
22 July	A case study of Australia's committment to families
19 June	Councils declare themselves Refugee Welcome Zones
7 May	Australia cuts back its committment to UNHCR
14 February	Representing asylum seekers honestly
7 January	It's too early to send Afghans back

2001

24 September	Asylum seekers used for election gain
19 September	Refugee Council asks for empathy with all victims of persecution
10 September	Refugee Council denounces latest knee-jerk proposals
28 August	Australia turns its back on those in need - again!
14 August	Time for alternatives
13 August	Minister's legislative amendments threaten refugee protection
20 June	MP and Ruddock leave out relevant facts on refugees
30 March	Anti-Human Rights Bill must be defeated

2000

31 July	Criticisms of Australia's mandatory detention policy
9 June	Protests at Woomera Detention Centre
13 April	Return of Kosovars
5 April	Savage cut to Humanitarian Program
25 February	No justification to stop processing of Humanitarian Program