Human rights: could Menzies help Albanese see the light? By Andrew Fraser, P&I

CLA chief executive Bill Rowlings, who joined the Liberal Party in the 1960s but resigned in the 1970s when the first flush of the right-wing “Uglies” hit, may have struck on the answer: go to the Liberals’ highest power, the party’s founder and the nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies.

After the Liberal wipeout at last year’s election, Rowlings noted that “Liberal activists” such as long-time federal minister Chris Pyne and federal vice-president Fiona Scott called for a return to Menzies’s founding principles.

Rowlings wrote: “Menzies’s Australian Liberalism is, within the limits of social justice, the primacy of the family, parliament’s power over the executive, the rule of law, and particularly:

“. Freedom from government interference in an individual’s right to speak, to choose to be ambitious, industrious, to acquire skill and seek and earn reward, provided individuals accept responsibility for what they do or say; ………….

Human rights: could Menzies help Albanese see the light? By Andrew Fraser, P&I

Bob Katter recognises Middle Eastern heritage, months after threatening reporter about it. By Ewa Staszewska, SBS News

Bob Katter has said that, to prevent terror attacks, migrants from the Middle East shouldn't be allowed in Australia.

However, the MP said there are exceptions to his beliefs about Middle Eastern migrants, such as his own ancestors.

Last year, Katter cut off and threatened to punch a reporter who asked about his heritage.

Bob Katter recognises Middle Eastern heritage, months after threatening reporter about it. By Ewa Staszewska, SBS News

Coroner refers exploited migrant worker's death to federal police. AAP, SBS News

His death has sparked calls to improve the reporting of modern slavery offences and establish a national anti-slavery hotline.
An inquest into his death was told the recent university graduate was exploited by his employer, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Coroner Rebecca Hosking found he had been required to work 60 hours a week of manual labour without receiving any of the training he had been promised, and he wasn't paid as agreed.

Coroner refers exploited migrant worker's death to federal police. AAP, SBS News

'Someone out there cares': When fires raged, a Melbourne baker opened his doors. By Gabrielle Katanasho, Fares Hassan & Fares Zakhour, SBS News

Chris Mansour arrived in Australia in 2006 after fleeing the war in Lebanon, forced to leave his home at a moment's notice.
During catastrophic bushfires that displaced communities across Victoria earlier in January, the Melbourne baker opened the doors of his business to evacuees and SES volunteers seeking food and shelter.
For Mansour, it wasn't about charity — it's repayment.

'Someone out there cares': When fires raged, a Melbourne baker opened his doors. By Gabrielle Katanasho, Fares Hassan & Fares Zakhour, SBS News

Filipino migrant worker’s death in NSW referred to federal police. By Adeshola Ore, The Guardian

A New South Wales coroner has referred the death of a Filipino migrant worker, who died after jumping from a moving vehicle in 2019, to the Australian federal police to consider further investigations.

NSW deputy state coroner Rebecca Hosking handed down the findings into the death of 21-year-old Jerwin Royupa on Friday. She concluded Royupa, a trainee at a winery, was “exploited” and exposed to “potentially criminal” conduct during his five weeks in Australia.

Filipino migrant worker’s death in NSW referred to federal police. By Adeshola Ore, The Guardian

Australia exposed Iranian asylum seeker to torture on Manus, UN says. By Caitlin Cassidy, The Guardian

United Nations says man experienced ‘serious violence’ in detention but Australia argues it did not control PNG facilities.

Australia exposed an Iranian asylum seeker to torture and ill-treatment during his years in detention, a UN committee has found, amounting to a breach of international obligations.

Last week, a UN watchdog ruled that Australia violated the rights of asylum seekers arbitrarily detained on Nauru, in a warning to other countries intent on outsourcing asylum processing.

A spokesperson for the federal government said it was Australia’s “consistent position” that people in regional processing countries “do not engage our international obligations”.
Australia exposed Iranian asylum seeker to torture on Manus, UN says. By Caitlin Cassidy, The Guardian

Population growth, fertility rates and migration. What could Australia look like in 2035? By Cameron Carr, SBS News

Australia's population will grow by another four million people over the next decade despite falling migration and fertility rates.

The federal government's latest population statement predicts the current population of 27.5 million will grow to 31.5 million by the end of 2035. It's roughly 150,000 lower than projected in the previous population statement.

Population growth, fertility rates and migration. What could Australia look like in 2035? By Cameron Carr, SBS News

Australia's population forecast to reach 28 million in 2026 despite fall in overseas migrants. By Joshua Boscaini, ABC News

Australia's population is forecast to reach 28 million people in 2026 despite a drop in overseas migrants and a low birth rate. 

The Centre for Population's 2025 Population Statement shows Australia's population growth is projected to slow to a record low of 1.3 per cent this year, down from 1.5 per cent last year.

The slow growth has been driven by a projected decrease in migrant arrivals and increase in migrant departures, according to the centre's projections.

Melbourne forecast to become the nation's most populous city, reaching 9.1 million by 2065-66, according to the projections. 

Australia's population forecast to reach 28 million in 2026 despite fall in overseas migrants. By Joshua Boscaini, ABC News

'Oh, I made that one': The hidden story stitched into Melbourne's 'iconic' tram seats. By Pranjali Sehgal, SBS News

Over 12 years, SisterWorks says it has supported more than 3,500 women from 105 nationalities, offering tailored assistance based on each woman's skills, background and aspirations.

When a seat is damaged or stained, it is removed from circulation and sent to SisterWorks for a "multistep" repair process. Depending on the damage, the sisters replace the fabric and foam, and even comfort-test the seat until they are satisfied.

'Oh, I made that one': The hidden story stitched into Melbourne's 'iconic' tram seats. By Pranjali Sehgal, SBS News

Life as a Home Affairs whistleblower: ‘I’m just falling over’. By Nick Feik, The Saturday Paper

Elias is still technically employed by the Department of Home Affairs, but he hasn’t worked full-time since July 2021, when he walked out on his role in Operation Sovereign Borders following what he describes as “a significant probity breach” involving lucrative Home Affairs contracts in Nauru.

Life as a Home Affairs whistleblower: ‘I’m just falling over’. By Nick Feik, The Saturday Paper

Why getting more migrants to swim has benefits for all of Australian society. By Heloise Vyas, ABC News

People from diverse backgrounds face several barriers that limit their participation in swimming and water safety education, both in their homelands and after coming to Australia.

They include restrictive cultural or religious attitudes to water activities, lack of access to water bodies or aquatic infrastructure, cost and transportation issues, a fear of water, the absence of community role models, or a sense of indifference to the value of knowing how to swim.

Why getting more migrants to swim has benefits for all of Australian society. By Heloise Vyas, ABC News

From international students to skilled visas: Inside Australia's 2026 migration shift. By Avneet Arora, SBS News

The reforms follow a federal review of migration laws sparked by the Bondi Beach massacre, which the government says will inform tighter rules and a more selective approach to arrivals.
While the permanent migration cap remains steady, stricter student visa rules and a more selectively targeted skilled stream will redefine the profile of new arrivals, supported by new digital tools designed to streamline compliance and application processing.

From international students to skilled visas: Inside Australia's 2026 migration shift. By Avneet Arora, SBS News

Audio: Refugee hotline sees spike in calls for help after Bondi terror attack. By By Biwa Kwan, SBS News

A hotline supporting refugees who have fled war, violence and persecution has received a funding boost after the Bondi terror attack. Those running the hotline service in New South Wales says the funding will allow it to extend its reach nationally, supporting refugees as they navigate the ongoing effects of complex trauma and triggers of what happened at Bondi.

Audio: Refugee hotline sees spike in calls for help after Bondi terror attack. By By Biwa Kwan, SBS News

‘International community has lost interest’: Afghanistan’s first female vice-president sees history repeating. By Ben Doherty, The Guardian

Sima Samar, former Afghanistan vice-president and head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, is in exile but dreams of returning to the country she has helped rebuild once before.

“The international community has lost interest, has stopped paying attention,” Samar says. “There are conflicts all around the world, some very bad conflicts, but Afghanistan is also important … there is a moral responsibility to defend human rights everywhere.

“What is security when a woman is not safe to walk in the street? What is security if a girl cannot go to school? What is security if families have food for lunch but no food for dinner. There’s no human security.”

‘International community has lost interest’: Afghanistan’s first female vice-president sees history repeating. By Ben Doherty, The Guardian