In the media
Nauru and PNG
The UNHCR backed a push by the Greens for legislation to immediately transfer the remaining refugees in Nauru and PNG to Australia. Two refugees on Nauru sewed their lips shut in protest at their situation. Meanwhile the government rushed legislation through Parliament to reauthorise Nauru as an offshore processing location. Behrouz Boochani concluded his Australian tour with an appearance on ABC Q&A where he confronted current and former Ministers on their respective government’s asylum policies.
Detention
Around 100 people, who were released in December due to a court ruling, were told they would be re-detained after retrospective legislation was passed to make their detention lawful. Around 50 refugees, who allege harm caused by their detention in the early 2000s, have waited almost ten years for their civil cases against the government to be heard. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention demanded the immediate release of an Iranian man who has spent 5 years in detention. Members of his family were killed during recent protests against the Iranian regime in Ahwaz.
International
Rohingya refugees sent money to earthquake victims in Turkiye and Northern Syria as a symbol of their solidarity with people who have lost everything. Canada committed to accepting 10,000 Uyghur refugees, over two years, in response to apparent efforts by China to forcibly return Uyghur people who have fled. The USA commenced a refugee sponsorship program that will be similar to the Canadian program that has been operational since 1979. At the same time the US government announced that anyone who passed through other countries to reach their land border would be banned from applying for asylum. Reuters documented the 11-country trek that hundreds of Afghan people have made from Brazil to the USA. In Africa, thousands of Somali people fled to Ethiopia to escape a surge in violence in the Sool region. The UNHCR released its 2023 South Sudanese Refugee Response Plan. The UNHCR visited Northern Ethiopia where a peace deal appears to be holding. In Europe atleast 62 people drowned when their boat disintegrated off a popular tourist beach in Italy. Six people were charged with involuntary manslaughter and people smuggling after 18 asylum seekers were found dead in the back of a truck in Bulgaria.
In policy
The government announced the commencement of the process to move people on Temporary Protection Visas and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas to permanent residence. The announcement was accompanied by a directive to the navy to increase their patrol of Australian waters. Refugees who arrived by boat after 19 July 2013 will remain on bridging visas. One such refugee commenced a full scholarship at Newcastle University, but was stripped of her study rights as soon as she turned 18, as per government policy for people who were subject to offshore processing.
A Senate inquiry into the human rights implications of violence in Iran recommended designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation and expelling any Iranian officials who have monitored or intimidated people in Australia.
In research
Dr Claire Higgins of the UNSW Kaldor Centre will lead research into regional employment for refugees in Australia. An ARC Discovery Project will fund the development of a new analytical framework into Australia’s role in international law, including where it concerns refugees. The Melbourne Social Equity Institute opened applications for it Interdisciplinary PhD Program into Migration, Statelessness and Refugees.