Thousands applied for this world-first visa. Now the first have arrived in Australia. By Tys Occhiuzzi & Olivia Di Io, SBS Newsrio

The Manuellas are one of the first families to arrive in Australia under a new treaty with Tuvalu, as rising sea levels threaten their homeland.

The visa was partially designed to assist those on the front-line of climate change and rising sea levels.

Professor Jane McAdam, director of the University of New South Wales' Evacuations Research Hub, explains the visa doesn't require applicants to have work or study plans already arranged.

"It provides opportunities for what we call livelihood diversification, it enables kids to go to school in Australia, for people to acquire further skills and training which they might want to use here, but equally might want to take back to Tuvalu," McAdam told SBS News.

Thousands applied for this world-first visa. Now the first have arrived in Australia. By Tys Occhiuzzi & Olivia Di Io, SBS Newsr

Afghan embassy in Canberra to close, raising fears for citizens in Australia. By Olivia Di Iorio, SBS News

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has announced that the Afghan Embassy will cease to operate after 30 June 2026.

The Refugee Council of Australia said in a letter to the Australian government last year the embassy has been crucial in providing consular and diplomatic support as well as essential documents such as passports and birth records needed for refugee protection claims and even routine activities like opening bank accounts.

It also served as a diplomatic, cultural and community bridge between Afghan Australians, civil society organisations, schools, universities, local, state and the Australian government.

"Closure of the embassy risks exposing people to danger. With Afghanistan under Taliban control, many Afghans fear that the loss of the Embassy may force them to seek documents directly from Taliban-run institutions," the council said.

Afghan embassy in Canberra to close, raising fears for citizens in Australia. By Olivia Di Iorio, SBS News

Company handling Australia’s immigration detention playing key role in Trump’s ICE migrant crackdown. By Christopher Knaus and Ariel Bogle, The Guardian

Local advocates and politicians have called for a review of MTC’s immigration detention contracts with the Australian government. MTC is also contracted by state governments to run several correctional facilities.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre deputy chief executive, Jana Favero, said the Australian governments partnership with MTC was “deeply concerning”, given its track record in the US.

“Yet, despite this troubling track record, it is alarming the Albanese government continues to knowingly award and extend the company’s control of Australia’s offshore detention system to MTC,” Favero said.

“As we watch in horror at what’s happening on the streets in the US, including the violent crackdown on migrants, we should do everything to distance ourselves from such actions here, starting with ending the contract with MTC.”

Company handling Australia’s immigration detention playing key role in Trump’s ICE migrant crackdown. By Christopher Knaus and Ariel Bogle, The Guardian

Rwanda sues UK over scrapped asylum seeker deal. By Mariamne Everett and News Agencies, Aljazeera

Rwanda has taken legal action against the United Kingdom’s refusal to disburse payments under a now-scrapped, controversial agreement for Kigali to receive deported asylum seekers, according to a Rwandan official and UK media reports.

Rwanda launched arbitral proceedings against the UK through the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on Tuesday. It is seeking 50 million pounds ($68.8m) in compensation after the UK failed to formally terminate the controversial agreement about two years ago, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Rwanda sues UK over scrapped asylum seeker deal. By Mariamne Everett and News Agencies, Aljazeera

Immigration freeze on table as deep rift splits Europe. By David Crowe, SMH

..Amid the French debate on a migration halt, the Spanish government is taking a different approach with its decision to put a new law to parliament that would grant at least one year of legal residence to people who are already in the country without permits.

Spanish Minister of Migration Elma Saiz estimated this could help 500,000 people living in Spain without authorisation.

The draft plan would grant legal status to foreigners who arrived in Spain before December 31 last year and could prove they had lived in the country for at least five months without any criminal record.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a vocal supporter of giving asylum to people fleeing persecution and has argued against the curbs on migration advocated by right-wing parties, setting up a major test on the issue at the national election due by August next year.

Immigration freeze on table as deep rift splits Europe. By David Crowe, SMH

UN review of Australia’s human rights record raises concerns about continued imprisonment of children, offshore detention of refugees, and lack of human rights protections. Amnesty International

Every five years UN member states undergo a Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, where their human rights records are scrutinised.

Australia appeared before the UN Human Rights Council on 26 January 2026. The Albanese government must now respond to these recommendations by July 2026.

Australia’s last review occurred in 2021 where 122 states made 250 recommendations, and the Australian Government supported 177 of the recommendations.

The Australia Human Rights Commission’s assessment is that only 6% of these recommendations have been fully implemented, although 86% have been partly implemented, since 2021.

UN review of Australia’s human rights record raises concerns about continued imprisonment of children, offshore detention of refugees, and lack of human rights protections. Amnesty International

New citizens welcomed to Australia as thousands turn out for rallies across the country. By Wing Kuang & Alexandra Jones, SBS News

On Monday, more than 300 citizenship ceremonies were held across Australia to welcome 18,800 new citizens from over 150 countries.

Thousands of people also turned out to competing rallies, including Invasion Day rallies in every capital city. The date has attracted an annual protest since 1938, when First Nations people inaugurated a Day of Mourning.

March for Australia rallies, whose attendees have raised concerns about immigration and cost of living pressures, also saw turnouts across major cities.

New citizens welcomed to Australia as thousands turn out for rallies across the country. By Wing Kuang & Alexandra Jones, SBS News

Trump’s 'Peace Board' is imperialism in a new suit. By Stuart Rees, P&I

Consistent with the practices of other imperialist powers, the vulnerable who should have a central place in crafting a durable peace with justice must be ignored. In the grandiose claims about the Trump Board and what it will achieve, there is no mention of conditions in Gaza or of the two state objectives. Hamas must be disarmed but Israel is under no pressure to leave Gaza. The one sided version of imperialism flourishes.

Trump’s 'Peace Board' is imperialism in a new suit. By Stuart Rees, P&I

Colin Hay ‘strenuously disapproves’ use of Down Under at March for Australia rallies. By Dee Jefferson, The Guardian

Former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay has disavowed the use of the band’s 80s anthem Down Under by Australian anti-immigration protesters, saying the song “does not belong to those who attempt to sow xenophobia”.

“Go write your own song, leave mine alone.”

Colin Hay ‘strenuously disapproves’ use of Down Under at March for Australia rallies. By Dee Jefferson, The Guardian

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