Nauru and Australia finalise long-term funding for refugee processing, RNZ

Nauru's President David Adeang has announced the conclusion of negotiations with Australia on long-term funding for the Regional Processing Centre.

Adeang made the announcement in parliament this month, according to the Nauru Bulletin.

To date, 93 transferees reside on Nauru, four of whom have been granted refugee status, while 89 asylum seekers are undergoing the appeals process, according to a report in the fortnightly newsletter published by the Government Information Office.

Nauru and Australia finalise long-term funding for refugee processing, RNZ

Thanh was 19 when he was sent to war. The Fall of Saigon changed him forever. By Christopher Tan, SBS News

Half a century after the Vietnam War ended, South Vietnamese veterans and refugees Le Quang Vinh and Thanh Nguyen recount their harrowing experiences of war, brutal re-education camps and perilous escapes by sea.

Le and his family were among the first wave of Vietnamese refugees welcomed into Australia under then-Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser's humanitarian resettlement program in 1978.
It was a significant turning point in Australian history — coming just five years after the end of the White Australia Policy.

Thanh was 19 when he was sent to war. The Fall of Saigon changed him forever. By Christopher Tan, SBS News

Australia once had ‘immigration amnesties’ to grant legal status to undocumented people. Could we again? By Sara Dehm & Anthea Vogl,The Conversation

More immigration amnesties were promised during later election campaigns and then implemented in 1976 and 1980.

These amnesties occurred under successive Labor and Liberal federal governments, and each enjoyed enthusiastic bipartisan support.

So, how did these amnesties work – and could they happen again?

Australia once had ‘immigration amnesties’ to grant legal status to undocumented people. Could we again? By Sara Dehm & Anthea Vogl, The Conversation

Why has there been no discussion of asylum-seekers in this campaign? By Abul Rizvi, P&I

Despite it being a perennial topic during Elections this century, neither major party wants to talk about asylum seekers this time around.

After 10 years of scaremongering, Peter Dutton has given up trying to tell us we are about to be invaded by an impending armada of boat arrivals. He also knows that it was his negligence that from 2015 led to the biggest labour trafficking scam abusing the asylum system in our history. That may explain why he hasn’t brought up the issue this time.

While Labor put more resources into processing asylum claims to stabilise the number of asylum applications at the primary level and at the Administrative Review Tribunal, it knows it has not done enough to stabilise growth in the number of people who have been refused at both the primary level and at the ART (see Table 1).

Why has there been no discussion of asylum-seekers in this campaign? By Abul Rizvi, P&I

5 ways to tackle Australia’s backlog of asylum cases. By Daniel Ghezelbash, Keyvan Dorostkar & Mia Bridle, The Conversation

For people seeking asylum who have their initial applications refused and seek review in the Administrative Review Tribunal and in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, the process can often take more than ten years.

Whoever wins the upcoming election inherits the daunting task of addressing this issue.

Our research evaluated data on Australia’s previous attempts to increase efficiency of asylum processing. We also examined international best practice for designing fair and fast procedures, including lessons from recent successful asylum reforms in Switzerland.

5 ways to tackle Australia’s backlog of asylum cases. By Daniel Ghezelbash, Keyvan Dorostkar & Mia Bridle, The Conversation

‘The beauty of immigration’: Inside Khawaja’s heartfelt mission for change By Nick Wright SMH

“When I hear immigration getting blamed for the housing crisis, which I fundamentally know is not true – housing prices went through the roof when no immigrants were coming through in COVID – it disappoints me because I think Australia was built on the back of immigration,” he says.

“Unless you’re First Nations or a person of Aboriginal descent, we’re all immigrants in one way or another. I think Australia’s greatest asset is its immigrant community who’ve come into Australia, contributed to Australia and contributed to make it such a great country.

‘The beauty of immigration’: Inside Khawaja’s heartfelt mission for change. By Nick Wright SMH

ICC's plan for exiled Afghan women's cricket team exciting but unclear, advocate says. By Henry Hanson & Daniela Intili, ABC News

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a task force and fund for the exiled Afghan women's cricket team now residing in Australia. Specifics of the initiative remain unclear, but the cricket boards of Australia, England and India will provide "meaningful support" to Afghan players.

Dr Catherine Ordway, a key figure in the team's relocation to Australia, is hopeful the fund will match the sum currently given to the Afghan men's team.


ICC's plan for exiled Afghan women's cricket team exciting but unclear, advocate says. By Henry Hanson & Daniela Intili, ABC News

Dutton says Coalition wouldn't cut Australia's 'important' annual parent visa intake. By Sara Tomevska & Cameron Carr, SBS News

The Coalition has pledged to cut permanent migration by 45,000 places per year, but Peter Dutton says parent visa numbers wouldn't be reduced.

Immigration minister Tony Burke told SBS the Coalition’s proposed cuts to permanent migration were "reckless" and the pledge to not cut parent visas would mean deeper cuts would be made to the skilled visa category.

Dutton says Coalition wouldn't cut Australia's 'important' annual parent visa intake. By Sara Tomevska & Cameron Carr, SBS News

Pakistan expels 80,000 Afghans in two weeks amid crackdown on undocumented migrants By Libby Hogan, ABC News

Thousands of Afghans who have lived in Pakistan for years — some for decades —are being forced to return to a homeland they describe as unsafe, economically crippled, and socially repressive under Taliban rule.

Many cite fears over limited job prospects, insecurity, and the Taliban's ongoing restrictions on women, particularly the ban on girls' education.

Pakistan expels 80,000 Afghans in two weeks amid crackdown on undocumented migrants By Libby Hogan, ABC News

Dandenong housing crisis leaves refugee families at risk of homelessness. By Sacha Payne, ABC News

In 2022, the federal government announced it would provide 31,500 places for Afghan nationals through the humanitarian and family visa programs, saying it "reflected a sustained commitment following Australia's two decades of operations in the country".

The allocation included 26,500 places for Afghan nationals within the humanitarian program to 2026.

Nearly 7,000 people from that program have come to Victoria, home to Australia's largest Afghan diaspora.

Many have gravitated to Dandenong, where there is a large existing community who speak Afghan languages like Dari and Pashto.

But they are increasingly falling through the cracks.

Dandenong housing crisis leaves refugee families at risk of homelessness. By Sacha Payne, ABC News

Belonging Nowhere: How hard is it to feel like you belong in Australia? SBS News Podcast series (Season 1 : Episode 2)

Many stateless people are displaced around the world, attempting to find somewhere they can call home. Their journeys can often take a heavy toll, as they deal with traumatic experiences, or need to hid their true identities as a persecuted minority. In this second episode of 'Belonging Nowhere' we’ll hear some of the many stories of how people from different stateless backgrounds come to Australia – and the difficulties they’ve faced trying to make a home.

Some listeners may find some of this content distressing


Belonging Nowhere: How hard is it to feel like you belong in Australia? SBS News Podcast series: Season 1 Episode 2

Petro Georgiou, the ‘conscience of the Liberal Party’, dies at 77. By Tony Wright, SMH

He refused an early offer to join Howard’s frontbench, making it clear he put a higher value on exercising his freedom to oppose the party’s hardline policies, particularly towards asylum seekers.

As member for the blue ribbon Melbourne electorate of Kooyong – famously the seat of his old political hero, Liberal Party founder Sir Robert Menzies, and now held by a teal – Georgiou was a voice for diversity and considered a champion of Indigenous Australians, underdogs and outsiders.

In mid-2006, Georgiou joined fellow Liberals of the time Russell Broadbent and Judi Moylan to cross the floor and vote against Howard’s legislation that would force all asylum seekers to be processed offshore.

Petro Georgiou, the ‘conscience of the Liberal Party’, dies at 77. By Tony Wright, SMH

Don't demonise asylum seekers, human rights groups warn politicians. By Olivia Caisley, ABC News

A coalition of refugee and human rights organisations has written to the leaders of the major parties, urging them to avoid dog-whistling and sowing division throughout the federal election campaign.

Signed by more than 30 groups, including Amnesty International and the Asylum Seekers Centre, the letter warns against using immigrants and asylum seekers as a political football and urges that these groups be treated with respect.

"Political debate — both during and outside election campaigns — has often seen people seeking asylum become the target of unacceptable rhetoric, often describing refugees and people seeking asylum in a degrading and hostile manner," the letter reads.

"This is a poor reflection on how Australia is perceived internationally and undermines our proud record as a truly multicultural nation and as a leader in refugee resettlement and protection principles."

Don't demonise asylum seekers, human rights groups warn politicians. By Olivia Caisley, ABC News

International students not to blame for rising rents, Australian study finds. By Conor Duffy, ABC News

There is no link between international student numbers and the cost of rent, according to the findings of a new Australian study that examined rental data between 2017 and 2024.

A record number of 849,113 international students studied in Australia in 2024, with some politicians claiming this contributed to a rental crisis.

What’s next?

The study's conclusion has been supported by the Property Council of Australia and a former senior public servant, while the university sector has warned politicians against cutting international student numbers.

International students not to blame for rising rents, Australian study finds. By Conor Duffy, ABC News

Coalition accused of ‘exploiting racial issues’ after proposing antisemitism questions on citizenship test. By Krishani Dhanji, The Guardian

The opposition has been accused of “pitting” community groups against each other and using the Jewish community for political purposes, in suggesting citizenship tests should include questions on antisemitism.

The Australian National Imams Council told Guardian Australia the proposal raises “significant concerns” and divides communities rather than bringing them together.

Coalition accused of ‘exploiting racial issues’ after proposing antisemitism questions on citizenship test. By Krishani Dhanji, The Guardian