Mapping the Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (APODs). The Kaldor Centre UNSW, Dr Andrew Burridge, Associate Professor Daniel Ghezelbash

This interactive map documents hotels known to be used for immigration detention across Australia, creating the first coast-to-coast visualisation of a practice that has operated largely in the shadows for two decades.

Australia first introduced Alternative Places of Detention (APODs) 20 years ago. Since then, hotels – including both major chains and independent operators – have been used as places of detention, including for people who have sought asylum. Yet, there is no publicly available list of APODs in current or previous use. 

Mapping the Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (APODs). The Kaldor Centre UNSW, Dr Andrew Burridge, Associate Professor Daniel Ghezelbash

Dutch government collapses over immigration policy. SMH by Bart H. Meijer and Anthony Deutsch

Tensions came to a head this week when Rutte demanded support for a proposal to limit the entrance of children of war refugees who are already in the Netherlands and to make families wait at least two years before they can be united.

This latest proposal went too far for the small Christian Union and liberal D66, causing a stalemate.

Dutch government collapses over immigration policy. SMH by Bart H. Meijer and Anthony Deutsch

Lacking 'human decency' but legal, judge rules in refugee hotel detention case, SBS By Biwa Kwan

[My finding of the legality of the decision] should not, however, be understood as my approving the immigration detention the applicant was required to endure," he said in his decision.

"I can only wonder at the lack of thought, indeed the lack of care and humanity in detaining a person with psychiatric and psychological problems in a hotel for 14 months.

Lacking 'human decency' but legal, judge rules in refugee hotel detention case, SBS By Biwa Kwan

Home free: I’m waiting for justice after Australia locked me in an invisible coffin for 15 months. By Mostafa Azimitabar, The Guardian

I brought proceedings against the Australian government to challenge the legality of hotel detention. If I win this case, it will have significant ramifications and not just for other people who have been held in hotel detention.

Home free: I’m waiting for justice after Australia locked me in an invisible coffin for 15 months. By Mostafa Azimitabar, The Guardian

Ezidi refugees in Armidale say gap in language translation service impacts health care. By Max Tillman, ABC News

The language Ezidi is not recognised by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), which trains and accredits translators in more than 180 languages. 

The ABC has spoken to several members of Armidale's Ezidi community, who all said an absence of interpreters trained specifically in their language made visits to the hospital or local GP a highly stressful experience. 

Ezidi refugees in Armidale say gap in language translation service impacts health care. By Max Tillman, ABC News

Why our detention centres are a form of cruel care. Late Night Live presented by Philip Adams, ABC Radio National

Much of the debate around stopping the boats and even locking children up in detention centres has been around what is in the "best interests" of kids and their families. Dr Jordana Silverstein argues this approach has resonances with settler-colonial attitudes to Indigenous people and to any who come to our shores seeking succour from non-white countries. 

Guest: Dr Jordana Silverstein, Senior Research Fellow at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness at the University of Melbourne.

Why our detention centres are a form of cruel care. Late Night Live presented by Philip Adams, ABC Radio National

Nauru: Why Australia is funding an empty detention centre. By Hannah Ritchie, BBC News Sydney

Despite quietly shifting away from offshore processing, Australia recently signed a A$422m contract with a US prison company to oversee Nauru until at least 2025.

"The enduring capability ensures regional processing arrangements remain ready to receive and process any new unauthorised maritime arrivals, future-proofing Australia's response to maritime people smuggling," a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said.

Nauru: Why Australia is funding an empty detention centre. By Hannah Ritchie, BBC News Sydney

The ‘triumph of cruelty’ in Australia’s asylum seeker policy – Full Story podcast. Presented by Jane Lee with Eden Gillespie and Paul Karp, The Guardian (20:42 mins)

The last refugee has now been evacuated from Nauru. Yet the Australian-run detention centre remains ‘ready to receive and process’ any new unauthorised maritime arrivals at an annual cost of $350m.

Guardian Australia chief political correspondent Paul Karp and reporter Eden Gillespie tell Jane Lee about what refugees and asylum seekers detained for more than a decade make of the decision, and what it means for Australia’s deterrence policy.

The ‘triumph of cruelty’ in Australia’s asylum seeker policy – Full Story podcast. Presented by Jane Lee with Eden Gillespie and Paul Karp, The Guardian (20:42 mins)

Yes, of course we need a Human Rights Act! By Bronwyn Kelly, Pearls and Irritations

For instance, if an Act were designed to prohibit executive decisions that run counter to the international human rights treaties our parliaments have already ratified, we might hope that this would lessen the harms that have flowed from our unconstrained governments in policies such as those on detention of asylum seekers and children, mixing of adult and juvenile offenders as well as accused persons and convicted persons in detention centres, compensation of wrongly convicted persons, whistleblowers making genuine public interest disclosures, compensation of Indigenous peoples for theft of their lands and children, protection of Australians and others from climate change, and protection of Australians from propaganda for war.

Yes, of course we need a Human Rights Act! By Bronwyn Kelly, Pearls and Irritations

Last refugee on Nauru evacuated as Australian government says offshore processing policy remains. By Ben Doherty and Eden Gillespie, The Guardian

The last refugee held by Australia on Nauru has been evacuated off the island, flying into Brisbane on Saturday night, marking the end – at least for now – of more than a decade of offshore processing on the Pacific island.

However the Australian government says it remains committed to offshore processing as a policy. It maintains an offshore detention centre in abeyance on the island, at an annual cost of $350m, which it says is “ready to receive and process any new unauthorised maritime arrivals”.

Last refugee on Nauru evacuated as Australian government says offshore processing policy remains. By Ben Doherty and Eden Gillespie, The Guardian