In the media
In detention
The Saturday Paper reported that a Commonwealth inspection of Villawood immigration detention centre found that detainees live in a state of fear due to widespread drug use and the proliferation of home-made weapons. A woman who suicided in immigration detention had been flagged for a history of self-harm and suicidal ideation.
25 years since the Tampa affair
To mark the 25th anniversary of the so-called Tampa affair, media outlets published in-depth articles, conducted interviews with those rescued from the sinking Palapa boat and the then PM John Howard. Additionally, the ABC released a mini-series looking back on the situation.
5 years since the Taliban returns to power
ABC’s Saturday Extra program marked the 5-year anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power with an in-depth interview with people inside and outside Afghanistan. Al Jazeera English published a short overview of events in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021 and the BBC published a piece on how the Taliban is governing. Global Roaming interviewed the first Afghan Australian woman to serve in the ADF.
In the community
The new Refugee Student Settlement Program is gaining interest among Australian universities. Two members of the Iranian women’s football team who claimed asylum in Australia earlier this year were granted citizenship.
In policy
After the AFR published an article that the government would cut the refugee quota intake by a third, the Prime Minister intervened to say that the cuts would not go ahead. The government accidentally sent a human rights lawyer a secret document that details the Naoero (Nauru) deal, including the additional payments attached to certain categories of individuals. The government announced a $25 million package to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The Guardian visited Armidale, in Barnaby Joyce’s electorate, to hear what locals thought of One Nation’s immigration policy. More than 700 people have been living in Australia on 6-monthly bridging visas since 2014, due to the government’s policy on boat arrivals. They spoke to the ABC about their constant fear of removal.
In research
The Peter McMulllin Centre on Statelessness opened applications for its 2027 Statelessness Intensive course. Talent Beyond Boundaries published an evaluation report into the impact of skilled worker visas that enable appropriately qualified refugees to secure resettlement based on their professional credentials. The August edition of the Australian Journal of Primary Health included an article on research into the cancer literacy among refugees who settle in regional Australia.
New releases and events
Understanding Statelessness in Australia, published by the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness
Tampa: The turning point, a miniseries produced by ABC TV