Our work gives hope

Wednesday, December 20 2023

Our work gives hope. And it brings hope. It changes lives. This includes for people like Maya* who came to Australia from Myanmar in 2020 to study engineering. The military coup of February 2021 meant she was unable to safely return to Myanmar. She was terrified of being deported to face persecution and danger. If […]

Rasa finally unites with his wife and daughter after 17 years

Saturday, December 16 2023

18 months ago, I wrote about Rasa’s* relief on hearing the Federal Government’s reform commitment, for people on temporary protection, like him, to convert to permanency. Finally, after more than a decade-long fight for justice. Donate to our End of Year Appeal so we can help people like Rasa In 2009, Rasa, a Sri Lankan […]

Help us work for justice

Wednesday, December 13 2023

Every day, we work fearlessly to defend the rights and lives of thousands of people who seek our help, while advocating for major reform – and justice. Please donate to our End of Year Appeal so we can help people like Ibrahim In 2009, Ibrahim*, a stateless man from the Middle East, fled in fear […]

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 […]

High Court Challenge

Tuesday, November 28 2023

I’m writing to update you on our work helping people impacted by the recent High Court ruling on indefinite detention and the Government’s new laws imposing conditions on people freed which severely constrain their liberty. Today, our client, a 37 year-old Afghan Hazara man – and refugee – has filed a High Court legal challenge […]

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 […]

Grattan on Friday: A government in a big hurry gives opposition some wins on ex-detainees

Thursday, November 16 2023

It’s not very often we see a bill marched through parliament at such a pace as this week. After being caught on the hop by the High Court, the government has brought in emergency legislation to strengthen its powers to control more than 80 people, some of them serious criminals, it has been forced to […]

Australia passes laws to handle migrant convicts who can’t be held indefinitely or deported: AP News

Thursday, November 16 2023

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Migrants with criminal records face up to five years in prison for breaching their visa conditions under emergency legislation passed by the Australian Parliament on Thursday. The new legislation was in response to a High Court ruling that foreigners can’t be detained indefinitely as an alternative to deportation. The government said […]

Labor to fast-track new laws to deal with High Court ruling on detainees: The Age

Wednesday, November 15 2023

The Albanese government will on Thursday introduce new laws to deal with a landmark High Court ruling that it was illegal to hold people in immigration detention indefinitely and hopes to pass the legislation by the end of the week. In a sign of how the federal government is scrambling to pull together its legislative […]