Using strategies rooted in evidence and in behavioural science, the Kaldor Centre and the highly regarded Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) developed a practical framework to guide when and how to tackle migration misinformation.
‘If I didn’t have kids, I am dead’: Jasmine’s dreams turned into nightmare six weeks after arriving in Australia. By Rafqa Touma, The Guardian
Migrants and refugee women who experience domestic violence face major hurdles to get help. One centre in NSW is trying to change that.
'Unique opportunity': Inside the push for an Australian-backed children's hospital in Gaza. By Christopher Tan, SBS
Mustafa recently had a private meeting with Foreign Minister Penny Wong which he said was constructive.
"It was a very positive meeting. I thank the foreign minister for her commitment and the acknowledgement of the difficult circumstances," he said. "She understood the gravity of the situation."
In a statement, Wong confirmed the meeting took place and paid tribute to Mustafa's "selflessness" and said she looks forward "to continuing to work with him".
"I deeply appreciated meeting Dr Mustafa and the president of PANZMA and hearing their insights into the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," the statement said.
"It has been weeks since aid entered Gaza, and we know the operating conditions for aid workers are unacceptable.
"We are pressing Israel to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice."
A letter to a future Australian. By Julian Burnside, Agora Dialogue
“ I hope you live in an Australia which recognises that kindness and consideration can be their own reward, that helping someone in need can lift your soul, that sharing your good fortune does not diminish it, but increases it.”
A letter to a future Australian. By Julian Burnside, Agora Dialogue
Promoting human rights makes Australia stronger. By Daniela Gavshon, The Interpreter
As Australia enters a new electoral term with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese back at the helm, and world affairs in a state of turmoil, it is critical to ask whether human rights will get deserved attention in the government’s foreign policy.
Promoting human rights makes Australia stronger. By Daniela Gavshon, The Interpreter
The Racial Discrimination Act at 50. By David Lee, Pearls & Irritations
The passage 50 years ago of the Racial Discrimination Act, Australia’s first substantial piece of human rights legislation, laid the basis for the recognition of native title in the common law in the 1990s.
But for Whitlam’s use of the external affairs power, there would have been no Racial Discrimination Act and without this Act, the Mabo judgment of 1992 would have been impossible. The RDA thus remains, at 51, one of the most consequential legislative achievements of the Whitlam Government.
The Racial Discrimination Act at 50. By David Lee, Pearls & Irritations
Iranian refugee loses court battle against government over mental injuries caused by immigration detention, ABC News
Payam Saadat was held in immigration detention in Western Australia and then South Australia after arriving on Ashmore Reef in 2000.
The trial heard Mr Saadat fled Iran where he had been detained, tortured and physically abused before seeking asylum in Australia.
His lawyer argued during the trial that the government knew, or should have known, that he was suffering from or vulnerable to a psychiatric illness either caused or made worse by his immigration detention.
Australia has spent $13 billion on offshore processing in over a decade. Human rights experts believe there's a less costly, more compassionate way. By Olivia Di Iorio & Rachael Knowles, SBS
Hedayat founded Community Construction, a social enterprise employing refugees and asylum seekers. They've completed more than 300 projects and employ over 100 people.
“I'm receiving at least five application every day from refugees. They want to work, they want to contribute, they want to support their families. They don't want to be on Centrelink, but there's no equal opportunities," Hedayat said.
Cisarua Learning : 'Ride for Education' from Maleny to Adelaide
This June, Muzafar Ali and the Cisarua Learning team are embarking on a 4,000 km journey from Maleny to Adelaide.
Cisarua Learning are celebrating 10 years of refugee-led education - a journey that started with just $200 and two small classrooms.
Today, Cisarua Learning has grown to support over 2,000 refugee students across seven initiatives. But their work isn't done. With your support, they can continue to expand their impact, particularly in supporting women's education in Afghanistan and refugee education in Indonesia and Thailand.
Cisarua Learning : ‘Ride for Education’ from Maleny to Adelaide
Abul Rizvi - Incoming immigration minister faces immense challenges, P&I
During its esfirst term in office, Labor allocated an additional $160 million to process asylum applications more quickly. While that stabilised the size of the backlog at the primary level, the total number of asylum-seekers in Australia under Labor increased from about 94,000 in May 2022 to 121,000 in February 2025. The number of asylum-seekers refused at primary stage and still living in the community increased from 68,000 in May 2022 to 93,000 in February 2025.
There is no strategy to prevent the same thing happening again in Labor’s second term. That trend means we will look increasingly like countries in North America and Europe with large numbers of unsuccessful asylum-seekers living in the shadows of society. The minister must develop a holistic asylum-seeker strategy to address that. Such a strategy will be politically difficult and costly.
Abul Rizvi - Incoming immigration minister faces immense challenges, P&I
‘A travesty of justice’: ASIO’s pursuit of people smugglers. By Mark Isaacs, The Saturday Paper
After Ali had applied for Australian citizenship, the Department of Immigration invited him to attend an interview. It turned out to be a surprise interrogation by two ASIO officers.
Court documents show that the officers asked Ali 1020 questions in roughly two hours – a question every seven seconds. No lawyer was present during the interview and the ASIO officers never advised him to obtain legal representation.
'A travesty of justice' : ASIO's pursuit of people smugglers. By Mark Isaacs, The Saturday Paper
Refugee Advice & Casework Service’s roadmap for refugee policy reform
Will you call your new or returning local MP and urge them to read and respond to the Roadmap? You can find the digital version below.And let RACS know how you go!
Why extremists see gold in the migration debate. By Josh Roose, P &I
There’s nothing new about debates around immigration in an Australian election campaign and it’s sensible that they happen.
There’s also nothing new about politicians weaponising debate around immigration levels, which Australia has seen in the lead-up to the federal election.
But 2025 is different in many ways.
The emphasis has shifted, reflecting broader disenchantment with both politics and policies in Australia and internationally that aids those who would blame social and economic challenges on migrants.
It’s created an environment ripe for right-wing extremists — albeit a noisy minority — to sell anti-immigration messages fuelled by misinformation, racist views, conspiracy theories and a desire to build their imagined “white Australia”.
Why extremists see gold in the migration debate. By Josh Roose, P &I
Belonging Nowhere. SBS News 4-part podcast
Imagine not being able to attend school, see a doctor or even open a bank account? This can be the life for stateless people, and there are more than 4 million people across the globe who experience it. Living with a disputed nationality can impact lives in all kinds of unseen ways, and has been described by some as an overlooked human rights issue. In this four-part SBS News podcast we ask what it’s like to experience statelessness, how it occurs, and what society can do about it.
After 100 applications, Behz finally landed his dream job. Here's how. By Sandra Fulloon, SBS News
Pourdarab is not alone. The Australian Institute of Family Studies found only one quarter of refugees secure employment within the first two years.
What changed Pourdarab's life was meeting Carmen Garcia, the founder of an Adelaide-based employment service, Community Corporate. It connected him with an employer.
Garcia said: "Last financial year, Community Corporate supported more than 1,600 people across Australia and 91 per cent of those were from migrant or refugee backgrounds.”
After 100 applications, Behz finally landed his dream job. Here's how. By Sandra Fulloon, SBS News
Analysis : Imagine Dutton’s implausible cuts to migration were actually possible. Now see the dire economic consequences. By Patrick Commins, The Guardian
Even if practically and legislatively possible, the scale of the cuts would have dire consequences for the economy, the budget and businesses already struggling to find workers in a tight labour market.
The collapse in foreign student enrolments would also blow a hole in the profitability of major universities, which have become hugely reliant on high international fees.
Australia’s inhumane floating prisons. By Deham Sadler, The Saturday Paper
The floating prison consisted of one area enclosed by shipping containers, with thin mats covering grated floors. The ship is a makeshift detention area with no furniture or bedding, no hot water and no privacy. The toilets leak sewage into the ocean.
Australia’s inhumane floating prisons. By Deham Sadler, The Saturday Paper
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.
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?