Monthly Wrap September 2026

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

Monthly Wrap June 2022

In the media

Nauru and PNG

Leaked Nauru police correspondence showed a disregard for the wellbeing of refugees. Several former detention guards agreed a multimillion dollar settlement with G4S Security over the psychological harm caused by the violent incident in 2014 that resulted in the death of a refugee in the Manus Island detention centre.

Community

Safdar Ahmed, an artist with lived experience of Australia’s immigration detention regime, won the NSW Multicultural Award for his novel Still Alive. Mostafa Azimitabar, who was detained by Australia for 8 years, was nominated for the Archibald Prize. A refugee advocate successfully appealed a defamation decision that resulted from a case that was brought by Peter Dutton.

International

The UNHCR welcomed New Zealand’s acceptance of a review into immigration detention that found their current regime is at odds with their human rights obligations. The European Commission published the 2021 statistics on asylum claims in Europe. A UN aid conference secured pledges totalling $6.7 billion for displaced Syrians and the countries hosting them. The Turkish government announced plans to build 200,000 homes in northern Syria in an attempt to encourage refugees, currently in Turkey, to return home. Refugees in Switzerland conducted the second sitting of the Refugee Parliament where they debated issues and policies that directly affect them. The relocation of asylum seekers from UK to Rwanda was delayed due to legal challenges by charities and unions representing Home Office staff. 600 Ukrainian refugees in the UK’s Homes for Ukraine program were moved into hotels because the housing they were placed in was unsafe or inappropriate.

An estimated 75 people drowned when their boat capsized off the Tunisian coast. Around 2,500 people a week have crossed the border into Niger in recent months as conflict and security have become a serious problem in neighbouring countries. Canada aims to close a loophole in their Safe Third Country agreement with America that has enabled asylum seekers to cross into the country via Roxham Road, Quebec.

In policy

The change of government will enable 19,000 recognised refugees who are on temporary protection visas to apply for permanent residence. The incoming government confirmed the youngest child in the Murugappan family will be issued a bridging visa, which will enable the family to return to Biloela. A review will be conducted into election day text messages sent by the then government about a boat approaching Australia. During the election campaign an Afghan woman begged the then PM Scott Morrison to help evacuate her family and the BBC queried whether the release of refugees from long-term detention was an election tactic. The Greens have called for a royal commission into offshore detention.

A charity operating a refugee school in West Java reported that children were given playing cards promoting Australia’s ‘Zero Chance’ campaign against entry by boat into Australia. The Law Report discussed the High Court’s interpretation of the obligation to consider protection concerns of people who have served their prison sentences and face a serious risk of harm if they are deported to their country of origin.

In research

The Danish Institute for Human Rights published a detailed analysis of agreement between the UK and Rwanda. It compares the arrangement to similar policies elsewhere and how it sits within the context of Safe Third Country principles and obligations under international law.

New releases

Hope, Solidarity & Death At The Australian Border: Asylum Seekers & Christmas Island, by Dr Michelle Dimasi, published by Cambridge Scholars publishing 

Sending Aya Back: the Syrian teen facing deportation in Denmark, a documentary published by The Guardian