FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 February 2019 Today’s historic vote on the urgent medical treatment bill delivered a decisive message to the government: Australians want an end to the abhorrent treatment of people in...
Media releases
Read our latest media releases here. You can also find by topic.Latest
Watershed moment in refugee politics and Australian history
Refugee and human rights organisations rejoiced today as the House of Representatives overturned 90 years of tradition and a toxic debate to vote authoritatively to deliver medical care to the refugees who have spent 5...
Australian Government agencies must explain their role in Hakeem Al-Araibi’s arrest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12 FEBRUARY 2019 The Australian Government owes Hakeem Al-Araibi a full explanation of the role played by government agencies in the circumstances which led to his arrest and...
#BackTheBill to save lives offshore – Joint Statement from civil society organisations
On Tuesday 12 February, the House of Representatives will vote on the Urgent Medical Treatment Bill. We urge all Members of Parliament to support this bill to ensure an adequate medical transfer process is in place for...
No truth to Prime Minister’s claim about Global Compact on Migration
The Prime Minister’s claim that the signing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration would compromise its immigration policy and border security is nonsense, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)...
Manus Island: Australian and PNG leaders must act urgently to save lives
The misery of indefinite detention on Manus Island is pushing increasing numbers of refugees and people seeking asylum to suicide attempts and self-harm, a new report by the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and...
International issues
Australian Hazara community fears massacre as Taliban attack Hazara districts in Afghanistan
The recent large scale attacks and atrocities by the Taliban against the Hazara people in Afghanistan has resulted in the killing, kidnapping, and displacement of family members and relatives of thousands of Hazara...
RCOA condemns attacks on Hazaras in Afghanistan and call for end to forced returns
The Refugee Council of Australia strongly condemns escalating terrorist attacks on Hazaras in Afghanistan and calls for the international community and Afghan Government to act swiftly to prevent further violence...
Cuts to support for people seeking asylum put pressure on states and community organisations to help those made homeless
Today will see hundreds more people seeking asylum exited from basic but vital support in the latest round of Federal government cuts These cuts could result in extra costs of up to $120 million for states and community...
Victory for children on Nauru but they cannot hold on until Christmas
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes reports that the government has taken the advice of thousands of doctors and committed to removing all children off Nauru, by the end of year. However RCOA spokesperson...
Kids Like Us
This video is made by Australian children asking for humane treatment of the children on Nauru.
Nauru children do not have time to spare whilst political bargaining continues in Canberra
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called on the government to stop playing politics with children’s lives and urgently bring refugee children on Nauru and their families to safety. Refugee Council of Australia...
Asylum issues
Cuts to support for people seeking asylum put pressure on states and community organisations to help those made homeless
Today will see hundreds more people seeking asylum exited from basic but vital support in the latest round of Federal government cuts These cuts could result in extra costs of up to $120 million for states and community...
Victory for children on Nauru but they cannot hold on until Christmas
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) welcomes reports that the government has taken the advice of thousands of doctors and committed to removing all children off Nauru, by the end of year. However RCOA spokesperson...
Nauru children do not have time to spare whilst political bargaining continues in Canberra
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called on the government to stop playing politics with children’s lives and urgently bring refugee children on Nauru and their families to safety. Refugee Council of Australia...
Refugee Council welcomes MPs’ call to move refugee children from Nauru
The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes today’s news that three federal Liberal MPs have publicly urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to bring all the refugee and asylum seeker children and their families from Nauru...
Wentworth candidates call for evacuation of refugee kids from Nauru
Leading Independent and minor party candidates united to call for the evacuation of refugee kids and their families from Nauru at a major by-election forum in Wentworth last night. Four candidates in the Wentworth by...
New poll finds Wentworth electorate supports call to get kids off Nauru
A new poll by uCommunications has found that Wentworth constituents are likely to back candidates who heed the Australian Medical Association’s recommendation to bring refugee children in Nauru to Australia. The poll...
