Thank you for your support in 2024

Monday, December 23 2024

As the year comes to a close, I want to express our deep gratitude for your incredible support throughout 2024. Through your generosity, we have been able to provide unprecedented levels of legal assistance to thousands of vulnerable people with predicaments that could hardly matter more: seeking protection from persecution, safety from family violence, freedom […]

Saafi* finally reunites with his family after more than a decade

Thursday, December 19 2024

Refugee Legal’s work continues to be shaped by global humanitarian crises that know no barriers – and which continue to tear families apart. Please donate to our End of Year Appeal to power our work to help families reunite here. Saafi*, a 47-year-old Afghan Shia Hazara man, contracted polio as a child, leaving him with […]

Help us fight for justice and freedom for people like Joyce*

Saturday, December 14 2024

The need to protect human rights is more urgent now than ever. Please donate to our End of Year Appeal so we can help people like Joyce* Just months ago, Joyce, a 42-year-old woman from Papua New Guinea (PNG), was served at her home with a ‘Notice of Intention to Remove’ by Australian Border Force, […]

Our End of Year Appeal

Thursday, December 12 2024

On Human Rights Day, the Government’s attempts to circumvent the High Court’s ruling that ankle bracelet monitors and curfews are unconstitutional, are a powerful reminder that the battle for justice continues. Today, amidst these injustices, we are launching our End of Year Appeal. As invoked by the 2024 Human Rights Day theme, ‘Our Rights, Our […]

High Court challenge: ‘YBFZ’

Tuesday, August 6 2024

Today, the High Court sitting in Darwin, will hear a challenge brought by one of our clients to restrictions on his liberty imposed by the Federal Government following his recent release from indefinite immigration detention. (See: YBFZ v. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor.) Our client, a 36-year-old stateless man – and […]

High Court considers detainee decision: ABC ‘AM’

Tuesday, August 6 2024

Sabra Lane: Today the High Court of Australia will consider whether new laws to force about 150 people freed from indefinite immigration detention to wear electronic ankle bracelets and abide by a curfew are unconstitutional. The laws were rushed through Federal Parliament last year in response to a previous High Court ruling that indefinite detention […]

High Court to rule on legality of curfew and ankle bracelets for those freed from indefinite immigration detention: ABC News

Tuesday, August 6 2024

The High Court will today be asked to rule on whether a law requiring those freed from indefinite immigration detention last year to wear ankle bracelets and live under a curfew is valid. It is largely a case of the court’s own making. In November the court ruled, on the spot, that indefinite immigration detention […]

Help us fight for justice and freedom

Friday, December 8 2023

Events since the High Court’s ruling on indefinite detention are a powerful reminder that a big battle for justice still lies ahead. And the need for legal help has never been greater. DONATE to our End of Year Appeal to help us fight for justice and freedom. Right now, we are providing legal assistance to […]

Australia ponders asylum-seeker issue after court ruling frees 100 – Nikkei Asia

Friday, November 17 2023

SYDNEY — Around 100 asylum-seekers in Australia have been freed after the High Court ruled their detention to be unconstitutional last week, as activists celebrate the “momentous” decision that has thrown up questions for the government over those still in custody. The ruling on Nov. 8 ends Australia’s controversial practice of detaining asylum-seekers indefinitely, generally […]

Labor accused of caving to Dutton as ‘draconian’ bill restricting released detainees is passed: ABC News

Thursday, November 16 2023

Labor has been accused of caving to Peter Dutton after it agreed to a slate of Coalition amendments to toughen restrictions on people released from detention so as to pass “draconian” emergency legislation on bridging visas. The bill, introduced on Thursday by the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, adds conditions, including electronic monitoring and curfews, to […]