RCOA’s advocacy, and our vision to promote a platform for change, remain stronger than ever. But what have we seen so far from the Albanese Government in its first year in power? Here is a breakdown of key policies and your impact on our advocacy in these areas.
ALP Platform
- Grant permanent visas to refugees on Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs)
- Replace the fast-track assessment with a fair, thorough and robust process
What the ALP has done to date
- The Government has announced that it will deliver a permanent pathway for people on TPVs and SHEVs
- Once people are granted a permanent Resolution of Status Visa, they can apply to sponsor family members through the migration program, as previous barriers have also been removed. However, restrictions are still in place for applications through the Special Humanitarian Program
Your impact
You have enabled us to continue holding the Government accountable for abolishing TPVs and SHEVs. Your donations also empower us to advocate for clear options for family reunion and for those without refugee status.
ALP Platform
- Increase refugee program to 27,000 places annually
- An additional 5,000 places for Community Sponsorship
What the ALP has done to date
- No increase in refugee places in the October 2022 Budget
- Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has said increases will be considered in the May 2023 Budget
- Minister Giles has also expressed interest in breaking the numerical link between the offshore and onshore refugee programs and increasing community sponsorship places
Your impact
By writing to your local MP today, you can help us call on the Government to fulfil its promise of providing 32,000 refugee places, starting with allocating money in the May budget for a significant increase.
ALP Platform
- Humane and risk-based detention policies
- Independent oversight of detention facilities
- Mandatory detention limited to no longer than 90 days
What the ALP has done to date
- Released some people from long-term immigration detention
- Started case-by-case review of detention of people with no safe country of return and those detained for the longest periods
- Passed the Aggregate Sentences Bill into law, so hundreds of people could face re-detention, with many already advised to self-report to Border Force
- Reduced the number of people in detention (from 1,402 in May 2022 to 1,061 in January 2023), but may increase it again as a result of the Aggregate Sentences Act
- Increased the average time in detention (from 736 days in May to 806 days in January 2023)
Your impact
With you beside us, RCOA is advocating an urgent review of detention for people with no safe country to return to.
ALP Platform
No one who arrived by boat on or after 19 July 2013 may settle in Australia.
What the ALP has done to date
- Government offshore-processing policy remains unchanged. Focus is on encouraging people affected by the policy who are in Nauru and Australia to take up resettlement options, particularly to New Zealand
- Nothing has been done to meet the needs of refugees and people seeking asylum in PNG
Your impact
Your support meant that we could assist refugees to resettle in alternative countries such as Canada through our Operation #NotForgotten program, and continue to advocate that all people still trapped in limbo have a permanent, safe home.
ALP Platform
- Australia to show humanitarian leadership in South-East Asia
- Respond to irregular movement by improving access to accommodation, work rights, health, education, refugee status and durable solutions
- Increase funding for UNHCR
- Appoint a Special Envoy for Refugee Issues
What the ALP has done to date
- RCOA has started discussions with the Government about options, but no formal response has been received to date
- No funding increase for UNHCR in the October 2022 Budget
Your impact
With your backing, RCOA has offered to facilitate dialogue among the Government, NGOs and refugee-led organisations in Asia to ensure the needs of refugees in the region are met.
ALP Platform
- Means-tested access to legal advice, social services including income support, healthcare and crisis housing
- Prompt and fair assessment of asylum claims
What the ALP has done to date
- More resources put into visa processing.
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to be replaced by a larger new tribunal with merit- based appointments.
- No action yet on Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) cuts.
Your impact
There is an urgent need to reverse the cuts to the SRSS Program to improve the fairness and efficiency of protection assessments, and to reform the AAT. Donations from our supporters will equip us to lead the push for these changes.
In Australia, around 10,000 of the 70,000 who have sought protection and are waiting on a visa decision need a basic financial safety net to survive. Right now, fewer than 1,000 of these people are able to access the SRSS Program and are facing deep poverty.
In the next month or so, we’ll give you more information on this and on how you can make a difference to the lives of people seeking asylum who are in urgent need of financial support.
Image credit: Sgt.Samuel Ruiz, US Marine Corps via Facebook
Soon, you can help call on the Government to provide a safety net.
In Australia, around 10,000 of the 70,000 who have sought protection and are waiting on a visa decision need a basic financial safety net to survive. Right now, fewer than 1,000 of these people are able to access the SRSS Program and are facing deep poverty.
In the next month or so, we’ll give you more information on this and on how you can make a difference to the lives of people seeking asylum who are in urgent need of financial support.
Read RCOA’s full Platform for Change.
Read more on the ALP Platform.
Image credit: Anthony Albanese via Facebook
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