Offshore processing

Since September 2012, the Australian Government has been sending people seeking asylum to Nauru and Papua New Guinea under a policy called 'offshore processing'. It is a policy designed to deter people from coming to Australia by punishing people who have come here seeking our protection.

Our publications

News Statistics

What we have learnt from the responses to 2022-23 Budget Estimates Questions on Notice

10 October 2022

News Reports

ALP refugee policy commitments in their 2021 National Platform

2 August 2022

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Reports

Refugee Response Index (RRI) Australia Review – Pillar 1: Access to Asylum

17 August 2022

Statistics News

What we have learnt from the responses to 2021-22 Additional Senate Estimates Questions on Notice

26 April 2022

Voting booths with hand putting in ballot paper

Reports

2022 Federal election: Refugee policies of Liberal-National Coalition, Labor and The Greens

16 May 2022

Media News Reports Statistics

Australia’s treatment of Afghan refugees

23 February 2022

Our other work

Media News

BUDGET 2022: Funds for language classes and visa assessment dwarfed by extra spending on offshore processing

Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s increased Budget investment in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), faster visa processing and support for temporary entrants from Ukraine...

26 October 2022

Media News

Refugee Week 2022 launches with a clear message that it is time to heal

16 June 2022

News Letters Media

Our letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

This letter congratulated Anthony Albanese on his election as Prime Minister and outlined some of the most pressing refugee policies facing his government in our letter below.

10 November 2022

A protest placard with the words 'welcome refugees' held up at a rally

News Refugees in Australia

Clear answers to curly questions on refugee policy proposals

20 April 2022

Media News

Australians welcome NZ’s generosity to refugees in offshore processing

24 March 2022

Learn more

Boat in water wth headline if you come here by boat and without a visa you won't be settled in Australia

Resources

Stop the Boats

Simon Kurian Stop the Boats tells the story of how Australia used a three word slogan to demonise people seeking asylum, fleeing war and persecution; condemning them to indefinite offshore detention and torture in...

19 January 2019

Films Resources

Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time

19 January 2019

Interesting publications

Abuse, self-harm and neglect on Manus and Nauru: Senate Inquiry Report 2017

The Australian Senate has conducted an inquiry into 'serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect' of people seeking asylum at Nauru and Manus regional processing centres (RPCs). The Senate inquiry was led by the...

2 February 2019