Refuge for queer asylum seekers. By Dennis Altman, The Monthly

Queer asylum seekers are not only caught in the same bureaucratic and financial tangles as other refugees, most often they cannot fall back on their diasporic communities for support. Someone who has fled their homelands because of persecution based on sexuality or gender identity is unlikely to find much sympathy from their compatriots in Australia. Often queer asylum seekers are fleeing their families, sometimes in fear of their lives. Many will tell you that they also feel unwelcome in the established queer communities within Australia.

Refuge for queer asylum seekers. By Dennis Altman, The Monthly

Eleven Australian women are stuck in Syrian refugee camps. Their repatriation trial starts today. SBS Source: AAP

The repatriation of women and children from a Syrian refugee camp last year is strong evidence of the Commonwealth's control over their detention, lawyers for another group of women fighting to return to Australia have argued.
A trial has begun in the Federal Court in a case brought on behalf of 11 women and 20 children seeking to be returned to Australia from detention in the al-Roj camp in northern Syria.

Eleven Australian women are stuck in Syrian refugee camps. Their repatriation trial starts today. SBS Source: AAP

Home Affairs boss stands aside for investigation of texts leak . By Tom McIlroy, Financial Review

The reports made public hundreds of encrypted messages between Mr Pezzullo and Liberal Party member Scott Briggs over more than five years, including some that were disparaging of senior public servants and politicians including Christopher Pyne, Julie Bishop and Marise Payne.

Mr Pezzullo made no comment on Monday. Deputy secretary Stephanie Foster will lead the department while he is stood aside.

Home Affairs boss stands aside for investigation of texts leak . By Tom McIlroy, Financial Review

Home affairs department head Michael Pezzullo standing aside pending investigation over leaked texts. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

The Age and 60 Minutes first revealed the series of texts between Pezzullo and Liberal powerbroker, Scott Briggs, in which the home affairs secretary disparaged senior Coalition ministers and advocated for a right winger to be minister responsible for his department.

On Monday the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, revealed that home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, had asked that Pezzullo “stand aside” while an investigation took place.

Home affairs department head Michael Pezzullo standing aside pending investigation over leaked texts. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

Five years. A thousand messages. How a top public servant tried to influence governments. By Nick McKenzie, Michael Bachelard and Amelia Ballinger, The Age

The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes reveal a cache of messages Michael Pezzullo sent to a Liberal powerbroker in a bid to promote conservatives, oust enemies and revamp the national security regime.

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Five years. A thousand messages. How a top public servant tried to influence governments. By Nick McKenzie, Michael Bachelard and Amelia Ballinger, The Age

Young Lawyer of the Year and former refugee wants others to come to Australia 'in a safer way'. SBS Arabic24 By Ruba Mansour & Shirley Glaister

Zainab Al-Sweedy arrived in Australia as a child refugee after a seven-day voyage.

Why this community feels the cost of living crisis harder than others, SBS By Rashida Yosufzai

It’s a difficult moment for Melbourne father Sulaiman Anwarzai whenever loved ones call from overseas.
Not only is Anwarzai supporting his young family in Australia on a low income, he’s also financially helping the family he left behind in Afghanistan to survive.
“It is hard - we can’t do this on a regular basis, because you know, it's difficult,” he told SBS News, referring to the remittances

Anwarzai arrived in Australia less than two years ago with his wife and three children, after the Taliban took over his home country.

Why this community feels the cost of living crisis harder than others, SBS By Rashida Yosufzai

Federal government could pay millions in compensation over asylum seeker data breach. By Ben Doherty, The Guardian

The mass data breach, discovered by Guardian Australia in 2014, resulted in information being used, in some cases, to allegedly threaten asylum seekers, or persecute and even jail their family members.

Of the nearly 10,000 asylum seekers whose privacy was breached nearly a decade ago, those who suffered “extreme loss and damage” will each be eligible for more than $20,000 in compensation after a decision from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Federal government could pay millions in compensation over asylum seeker data breach. By Ben Doherty, The Guardian

Refugee goes on long walk to take Australia on a journey. By Sumitra Vignaendra, Pearls & Irritations

The people of Ballarat generously pay the family’s bills and rent. In return, Neil is a tireless volunteer for the SES and leads a crew, while Sugaa volunteers in aged care and the Ballarat Visitor Information Centre. Both are also actively involved in community committees.

Refugee goes on long walk to take Australia on a journey. By Sumitra Vignaendra, Pearls & Irritations

Australia told more migrants no ‘silver bullet’ for broken system. By Max Walden, Aljazeera

Government has opened door to more permanent migrants to ease labour shortages, but campaigners say more needs to be done to protect workers on temporary visas.

The Australian government is facing renewed calls to strengthen protections for migrant workers against exploitation and abuse, after announcing it will increase permanent migration places to address ongoing skills and labour shortages across the country.

Australia told more migrants no ‘silver bullet’ for broken system. By Max Walden, Aljazeera

Many migrants wait hours after a heart attack to seek help. Here's what needs to change. By Hannah Wechkunanukul & Philip Dalinjong, SBS News

Your chest tightens, like an elephant is sitting on it. Pain streaks down your arm and you break out in a cold sweat. You feel light-headed and you're pretty sure you're having a heart attack. So when do you call an ambulance?
You might think the answer is easy: straight away, right? It's well known getting the right medical help early when you're having a heart attack can be a life or death decision.
For many people from CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities, however, the answer might be: hours and hours after the first symptoms strike. Our research has shown many migrants don't seek help straight away. Why do so many migrants wait so long to seek help or go to hospital after chest pains? And what can we do about it?

Many migrants wait hours after a heart attack to seek help. Here's what needs to change. By Hannah Wechkunanukul & Philip Dalinjong, SBS News

This group is creating ‘safe spaces’ for their community to talk about the Voice. By Emma Brancatisano, SBS News

Nishadh Rego is on a mission to create safe spaces for his community to talk about what he calls an “important moment for Australia”.
Over the past two months, he and Khushaal Vyas have been organising information sessions and holding Instagram chats over cups of chai about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The two Sydneysiders are co-convenors of Desis for Yes, a volunteer collective of South Asian Australians supporting the Voice. Their aim? To educate their community in the lead-up to the 14 October referendum.

This group is creating ‘safe spaces’ for their community to talk about the Voice. By Emma Brancatisano, SBS News

Tamil asylum seeker granted permanent residency during 1,000km walk for thousands in limbo. By Biwa Kwan & Rayane Tamer, SBS News

"We look forward to working not walking. My kids can follow their dreams," he said.
Neil's daughter Nivash was proud of the achievement.
"I realised how many children aren't with their parents because of similar situations or situations far worse than ours," she told SBS News.
"I just wish those thousands of people out there can get a happy ending like we did."

Tamil asylum seeker granted permanent residency during 1,000km walk for thousands in limbo. By Biwa Kwan & Rayane Tamer, SBS News

Refugee jobseekers: Offering skills and experience for a door to the future. By Sue White, Sydney Morning Herald

Professor Betina Szkudlarek from the University of Sydney says research shows employers don’t know what support is available if they’d like to hire refugees, or even where to find refugee candidates.

“Many employers also wrongly assume that the process will be too costly or time-consuming. They are unaware of the work of numerous support organisations that could advance their recruitment strategy, helping the company achieve its strategic objectives while supporting refugees in finding meaningful employment,” Szkudlarek says.

“Refugees bring an abundance of skills, experience and resilience, but most of all a positive attitude to make the most of the opportunity to restart their lives in Australia.” Community Corporate CEO Carmen Garcia

Refugee jobseekers: Offering skills and experience for a door to the future. By Sue White, Sydney Morning Herald

Looking back on a decade of Operation Sovereign Borders: Should we still “stop the boats”? By Kim Huynh, ABC News

“Stop the Boats!” is arguably the Abbott government’s most significant and enduring legacy. A decade on, the Albanese government has abolished Temporary Protection Visas but remains committed to turn-backs, offshore processing, and mandatory detention. The website of Operation Sovereign Borders features an arrow that is turned back and around a boat, accompanied by the words “Zero Chance”.

While the boats have been stopped, the debate over the legacy and legitimacy of Australia’s deterrence measures continues. Reports that millions of dollars were paid to politicians in PNG and Nauru have renewed calls by refugee advocates for a Royal Commission into offshore processing.

So, ten years on, it’s worth revisiting the question: “Should we still stop the boats?”

Looking back on a decade of Operation Sovereign Borders: Should we still “stop the boats”? By Kim Huynh, ABC News