In January 2020 and in preparation for the visit of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) to Australia, the Australia OPCAT Network prepared a...
Media releases
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ALP Refugee Policy Commitments in their 2021 National Platform
Refugee Policy Commitments in the 2021 ALP National Platform Compiled by Refugee Council of Australia, this brief outlines, word for word, the relevant commitments in the Australian Labor Party (ALP’s) 2021 National...
What we have learnt from the responses to 2021-22 Additional Senate Estimates Questions on Notice
Compiled and analysed by: Sahar Okhovat The responses to Senate Questions on Notice after the 2021-22 Additional Estimates round were published on 25 March 2022. We analysed the questions put to the Department of Home...
Three refugee issues requiring urgent change in 2022
Ahead of the Federal Election, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has outlined three major issues that require immediate attention and action in 2022. ROCA is calling for: Priority 1: Finding real and lasting...
Closure of Park Hotel detention welcome but more refugees need freedom
Today’s release of 23 refugees – eight from Melbourne’s Park Hotel and 15 from other detention centres – is a small but important step towards ending Australia’s cruel punishment of people who sought protection from...
Refugee Council of Australia welcomes final report on Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan
The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the final report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee’s inquiry on Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan. We endorse the recommendations and look...
International issues
Government listens to community pleas by adding 16,500 new places for Afghan refugees
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the announcement in the 2022 Federal Budget of 16,500 additional places for refugees from Afghanistan over the next four years. “By setting aside 16,500...
Australians welcome NZ’s generosity to refugees in offshore processing
Media release 24 March 2022 The New Zealand Government’s announcement today of 450 resettlement places over three years for refugees caught up in Australia’s offshore processing regime will be welcomed by millions of...
Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to provide temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainians
The Refugee Council of Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainian people seeking safety in Australia. “Enabling Ukrainian people to arrive in Australia and...
Refugee groups urge immediate action to reinstate humanitarian visas ahead of Federal Budget
The proposal includes 20,000 humanitarian visa places plus an additional intake of 20,000 places for refugees from Afghanistan. Community and refugee groups from across Australia have come together with the Refugee...
Support for Australian refugee communities impacted by coverage of crisis in Ukraine
As the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is concerned not only for the impact the conflict has on the enormous number of people forced to flee their homes and seek protection in...
Australians want a more open-hearted national response to refugees
The Australian Government must reverse its recent cuts to the Refugee and Humanitarian Program to meet community expectations that the nation can do more to respond to refugees displaced from escalating conflicts in...
Asylum issues
Australians welcome NZ’s generosity to refugees in offshore processing
Media release 24 March 2022 The New Zealand Government’s announcement today of 450 resettlement places over three years for refugees caught up in Australia’s offshore processing regime will be welcomed by millions of...
Australia’s Treatment of Afghan Refugees
How their date and mode of arrival matters more than their persecution Since 2013, more than 23,000 Afghans have come to Australia – or sought to do so – to escape the Taliban’s insurgency and ultimate takeover of the...
Australia’s Afghan resettlement response a bitter disappointment
Media release 21 January 2022 The Australian Government’s refugee resettlement response to the Afghanistan crisis is so bitterly disappointing that it will leave Afghan Australians and their millions of supporters...
Australia must match other nations on Afghanistan aid to save lives
Media release 18 January 2022 Australia should at least match comparable nations for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to help avoid a “humanitarian catastrophe” – as nearly a million children face starvation. Additional...
Djokovic case exposes unfair treatment of refugees in Australia
Media release 11 January 2022 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Djokovic case exposes unfair treatment of refugees in Australia Novak Djokovic’s detention and subsequent speedy appeal...
Lifting of travel restrictions welcome news for refugee visa holders
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed today’s announcement that fully vaccinated refugee and humanitarian visa holders will be able to enter Australia from 1 December 2021. RCOA chief executive officer...
