OUR GOALS

End mandatory detention

We call for the end of mandatory detention beyond 90 days for people seeking asylum, both onshore and offshore.

Permanent protection

We support the rights of asylum seekers to have access to a fair and timely refugee determination process with funded legal support and, where appropriate, to obtain permanent protection.

Comprehensive support

We demand appropriate social support, work rights, education rights and access to Medicare for all refugees, individuals seeking asylum, and their families and to live freely in the community while engaging in the refugee determination process.

Family reunification

We work towards policies that assist refugees in reuniting with their families, recognizing the importance of keeping families together.

Human Rights Act

We support the establishment of a federal Human Rights Act that recognises Australia’s international obligations.

Our immediate objectives

While we acknowledge the progress made in government policy since 2022, we continue to advocate urgently for the following:
> Fair and Timely Refugee Determination Process Monitor progress in processing the ‘legacy caseload’ (largely those rejected under the Fast Track process). Advocate for processing of ‘transitory persons’ (largely those medevac’d from PNG and Nauru).
> Ensure Maintenance of Comprehensive Support – particularly work and study rights (including post-secondary) and access to Medicare. Advocate for an increase in the level of Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS).
> Family Reunion Prioritisation Advocate for prioritization of family reunion applications and reduction of costs for refugees granted permanent protection.
> Asylum Seekers and Refugees in PNG Advocate for the seriously ill men in PNG to be brought to Australia and for ongoing support to be provided for those awaiting resettlement.
> Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Nauru Advocate for greater transparency of processes, contractual arrangements and costs associated with holding people on Nauru, together with greater transparency re the status of those held, improved conditions and evacuation of those found to be refugees to Australia.
> Migration Amendment Act (2025) Advocate for ‘guardrails’ to ensure that the scope of the Act is limited to the NZYQ cohort for which it is intended.  Protest against the denial of natural justice implicit in the Act.

Strategies

>  Maintain visibility in the community through vigils, wearing badges and tee shirts and engaging with people where possible through use of strategies such as postcards and petitions.
>  Reframe the narrative to combat anti-immigration sentiment in the community and conflation of the broader immigration issue with treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
>  Continue to put pressure on the government to implement fair and humane asylum seeker and refugee policy through MPs, including local members, and the ALP conference in July 2026 in Adelaide.
>  Maintain links with other advocacy groups such as ASRC and Labor for Refugees.