Media release May 5, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia The Australian Government’s decision to extend visas for people currently in Australia from Myanmar is a compassionate measure...
Media & Publications
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Lives will be put at risk by planned changes to federal legislation
Statement by Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia People’s lives will be put at risk by planned changes to Federal legislation that would allow visa and citizenship applications to be decided on secret...
Our PM needs to act
Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Our Prime Minister should follow the powerful example set by US President Joe Biden and recognise that humanitarianism is a core value at the centre of any...
Recognising Australia’s ancient wisdom
Recognising Australia as home to the world’s oldest continuous living culture is central to the nation achieving its potential as a successful and open multicultural society. Much is being said this week about whether...
Media release: Release of medevac refugees
Media release: Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the decision by the Federal Government to release dozens of refugees who were previously...
New data reveals children of people seeking asylum left hungry as impact of COVID- 19 crisis deepens
As Australia celebrates low case numbers of COVID-19 and early signs of economic recovery, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has today released new figures revealing the extent of a deepening crisis amongst people...
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Latest publications
Joint submission to the Universal Periodic Review: Papua New Guinea
In November 2021, the human rights record of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will face scrutiny when the PNG Government appears before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for the third periodic review of its human...
Submission on pushback practices and their impact on the human rights of migrants
On 1 February 2021, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants. The submission was made in response to the Special...
Submission on the Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill 2020
On 19 February 2021 the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening...
UN member states challenge Australia’s refugee and asylum policies
Forty-seven UN member states raised concerns about and recommended changes to the Australian Government’s refugee, asylum and immigration detention policies when Australia’s human rights record came up for its third...
Homelessness and hunger among people seeking asylum during COVID-19
In August 2020, the Refugee Council of Australia surveyed charities, asylum support agencies and volunteer groups to understand better the situation that they and their clients are facing as a result of the COVID-19...
The Federal Budget: What it means for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection
What does the Federal Budget hold for refugees and people seeking humanitarian protection? This analysis provides a full briefing of those changes.
Submission to the inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities in Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) made a submission to the Inquiry into Issues Facing Diaspora Communities which is undertaken by Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Download the...
RCOA Impact Report 2019-20
We promote humane and compassionate policies for people seeking safety in Australia and around the globe. While we cannot predict the wars, conflicts and oppressive regimes that will force people to seek asylum, we can...
Submission to the inquiry into the impact of temporary migration
Download our submission here On 5 December 2019, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on Temporary Migration to inquire into and report on the impact temporary migration has on the Australian economy...
Submission to the inquiry into the working holiday maker program
The Australian economy has been substantially affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). In order to contain the spread of the virus, the Australian Government has closed its borders to all but citizens and permanent...
COVID-19 and humanitarian migrants on temporary visas: assessing the public costs
This paper estimates the impact of COVID-19. It finds that nearly 19,000 refugees and asylum seekers on temporary visas will lose their jobs because of the current economic downturn.
The impacts of COVID-19 on people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas
This briefing focuses on the impacts of COVID-19 on asylum seekers holding Bridging Visas (BVs “A”, “C” and “E”), and refugees on Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) and Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).
