28 August 2026
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed the intervention by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to maintain the Refugee and Humanitarian Program at 20,000 places per year.
The Australian Financial Review reported yesterday that the refugee intake would be cut to 13,750 places from July 2027, quoting an anonymous source within the Government who said the decision had already been taken.
RCOA quickly responded with a public statement pointing out that this cut would be at odds with the Labor Party’s clearly stated policy, which is to maintain the refugee program at 20,000 places while working towards a longer term goal of 27,000 places per year. RCOA followed this up with emails and calls to Federal Labor MPs urging them to speak up against the proposal to cut the refugee intake.
By late afternoon, the Prime Minister had issued a statement confirming that the program would remain at 20,000 places, a position confirmed on ABC-TV by Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite.
RCOA Co Chief Executive Officer Paul Power said he appreciated the efforts of the many Labor MPs who insisted that the Government not abandon its clearly stated policy on the refugee program.
“When the Albanese Government increased the Refugee and Humanitarian Program to 20,000 places in 2023, there was no suggestion that the increase was a short-term measure,” Mr Power said.
“It was a restoration of the program at the level set by the Gillard Government in 2012-13 and in line with the aspiration to increase the program eventually to 27,000 places which has been Labor policy since 2012.
“While the Department of Home Affairs has been saying since late last year that the refugee intake would drop to 13,750 places a year from 2027-28 unless Federal Cabinet approved additional funding, we were having difficulty convincing some Labor MPs that this was a serious possibility.
“Yesterday’s article suggesting that the Home Affairs Minister had already decided to cut the program next year changed that view – and the response from concerned Labor MPs was immediate and highly effective.
“By providing certainty about the future of Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program, the Albanese Government is sending a very positive message to refugees, host communities and governments in our region that Australia remains seriously committed to finding solutions for people who are forcibly displaced.
“Next July, Australia will mark 80 years since the Chifley Labor Government signed an agreement with the International Refugee Organisation to begin resettling post-war refugees from Central Europe. Since then, more than one million refugees have permanently settled in Australia, helping to transform the nation into the modern multicultural society it is today. This anniversary will be a more significant celebration now that we know that the future of the Refugee and Humanitarian Program is assured.”
