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A Just Australia
Australian Refugee Foundation
Refugee Week

Latest News

Expanded excision law a new low in refugee protection

The international system of asylum would collapse if other countries followed the lead of Australia in passing legislation to expand its excision policy to the entire country. Read more here.

Right to work fundamental for asylum seeker families

Bridging visas issued to asylum seeker families who arrive by boat must include the right to work to ensure vulnerable people are not left destitute. Read more here.

Detention of children no longer a last resort

The Australian Government is walking further away from its commitment to use detention as a last resort for minors by confirming plans to send children to immigration detention facilities in Darwin and Western Australia. Read more here.

People displaced by climate change require new solutions

The crisis responses necessary and available to refugees will not be an answer to future displacement caused by climate change, the Refugee Council of Australia said today. Read more here.

Government urged to release children from Manus Island detention

RCOA has backed a call by Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers member Paris Aristotle for the Australian Government to ur gently review the policy of keeping children in immigration detention on Manus Island. Read our media release here.

Parliament urged to support Bill to resolve indefinite detention

RCOA has encouraged a Senate Committee to support a Bill before the Australian Parliament to provide alternatives to the prolonged and indefinite detention of recognised refugees with adverse ASIO security assessments. Read more here.

Opposition's denial of appeal rights more punishment for asylum seekers

The Australian Opposition's proposal to deny asylum seekers arriving by boat access to an independent review of their refugee claim is further discrimination based on their mode of arrival. Read more here.

2013-14 Intake Submission released

RCOA's submission on the 2013-14 Refugee and Humanitarian Program is now available for download here. The submission focuses on international refugee needs, the recommendations of the Expert Panel on asylum seekers and community processing of asylum seekers.

Regional refugee protection in Asia-Pacific is unfinished business

The Australian Government must step up efforts to improve the inadequate levels of protection faced by refugees and asylum seekers that drive the movement of dangerous boat journeys from Asia to Australia. Read more here.

 

Promoting the participation of refugees in sporting activities

This report investigates the role of sport in assisting refugee settlement.

Read more about: A Bridge to a New Culture

 

Submissions

This page contains submissions made by RCOA to national and international inquiries on refugee and asylum issues. The table below includes links to the submissions and to further information about each inquiry.

 

2012

    
December Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the Migration and Security Legislation Amendment (Review of Security Assessments) Bill 2012 More info
December Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into theMigration Amendment (Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals and Other Measures) Bill 2012 More info
December Submission on the Australian Government's proposed Integrated Service Delivery Framework More info
November Response to planning for the Australian Government 2013-14 Migration Program More info
November Response to the Australian Government Family Support Program Future Directions Discussion Paper More info
November Submission to the Attorney-General's Department on the draft 5th report by Australia on the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment More info
August Submission to the NSW Department of Family and Community Services on Future Directions for Specialist Homelessness Services in NSW More info
July

Submission to the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers

Submissions from other organisations and individuals to the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers can be found here.

 More info
  Response to the Australian Government discussion paper on the proposed pilot of a private/community refugee sponsorship program More info
May Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission on the National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy More info
April Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties inquiry into the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment More info
March Response to the Australian Government discussion paper, Access and Equity: Inquiry into the Responsiveness of Australian Government Services to Australia's Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Population More info
February Submission to the Attorney-General's Department Consultation on the Exposure Draft of Australia's National Human Rights Action Plan More info

2011

    
September Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into Australia's Agreement with Malaysia in relation to Asylum Seekers More info
August Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Australia's Immigration Detention Network More info
  Submission to the Attorney-General's Department consultation on the National Human Rights Action Plan More info
June Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Detention Reform and Procedural Fairness) Bill 2010 More info
May Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 More info
April Submission to the Joint Standing Committee’s on Migration inquiry into Multiculturalism in Australia More info
March Submission to the Attorney-General's Department on recommendations made under the Universal Periodic Review of Australia More info
  Submission on a the discussion paper, A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia More info
  Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security review of Administration and Expenditure in Australian Intelligence Agencies More info

2010

    
December Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill 2010 More info
October Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill and the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Bill More info
July Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council towards the Universal Periodic Review of Australia More info
April Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into Australia's Relationship with the Countries of Africa More info
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2010 More info
March Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability More info

2009

    
September Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2009 More info
August Response to the Australian Government discussion paper, 'Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy: Helping refugees and humanitarian entrants settle in Australia' More info
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Test Review and Other Measures) Bill 2009 More info
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009 More info
June Submission to the National Human Rights Consultation More info

2008

    
August Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration inquiry into Immigration Detention in Australia More info
February Submission to the Review of the Australian Citizenship Test More info
  Submission to the Review of the Job Capacity Assessment Program More info
  Submission to the General Review of Employment Services  

2007

    
July Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill More info
February Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry into the Terrorist Organisation Listing Provisions of the Criminal Code Act 1995 More info

2006

    
November Response to the Australian Government discussion paper, 'Measures to improve settlement outcomes for humanitarian entrants' More info
  Submission on the Australian Government discussion paper, 'Australian Citizenship: Much more than a ceremony'  
May Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 More info

2003

    
October Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Agents Integrity Measures) Bill 2003 and Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Bill 2003 More info
September Submission to the Board of Taxation in the context of the consultation on the Definition of a Charity More info
August

Submission to the Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs inquiry into Child Custody Arrangements in the Event of Family Separation

 More info
July Submission to the Select Committee on Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters More info
June Submission on the discussion paper, 'Building a fairer system for jobless individuals and families'  
April Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Bill 2003 More info
February Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration review of Migration Regulation 4.31B ($1,000 RRT Decision Fee) More info

2002

    
October Submission to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs in the context of the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Program Entrants More info
July Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into the Family and Community Services Legislation Amendment (Special Benefit Activity Test) Bill 2002 More info
  Submission to the NSW Government Green Paper, 'Cultural Harmony: The Next Decade 2002-2012'  
April Submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's national inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention More info
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee inquiry into the provisions of the Migration Legislation Amendment (Procedural Fairness) Bill 2002 More info
March Submission to the Senate Select Committee inquiry into a 'Certain Maritime Incident' More info

2001

    
January Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into the Link Between Aid and Human Rights More info

1999

    
  Submission to the review of the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme for Asylum Seekers  
  Submission to the review of Material Assistance to Humanitarian Program Entrants  

1998

    
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the on the Migration Legislation Amendment (Judicial Review) Bill 1998 More info