Crunch time on Rohingya refugees. By David Brewster, The Interpreter

In recent years, Australia has made significant investments in supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to provide the Rohingyas with the bare essentials of food and shelter. Australia is now the third-largest provider of bilateral assistance after the United States and European Union. For Australia, it has in essence been an investment in keeping the Rohingyas in the camps and off the boats.

But several new developments may change the status quo.

Crunch time on Rohingya refugees. By David Brewster, The Interpreter

The indefinite detention of people seeking asylum in Australia is at an end. By Spencer Zifcak, P&I

Without a reasonable understanding of the reasons for the High Court’s decision that the affected asylum seekers must no longer be detained, neither the decision nor its implications can fairly be assessed.

Let’s begin at the beginning. The High Court’s decision in the case of NZYQ (November 2023), overturned a prior High Court decision in the case of Al-Kateb, made 20 years earlier in 2004. The Al-Kateb case was the first to contemplate the indefinite detention of people who had fled from their home countries and arrived in Australia by boat.

The indefinite detention of people seeking asylum in Australia is at an end. By Spencer Zifcak, P & I

On the UN stage, these Hazaras are challenging the world to tackle the refugee crisis. SBS Dari

After years of living in uncertainty, Mr Haidari finally received his permanent residency in September.
Eleven years after first stepping foot on Australian soil, Mr Haidari is now a strong voice, advocating for his fellow refugees on an international stage.
He is representing Amnesty International Australia at the forum.
He is one of a delegation of 15 people representing Australia’s refugee advocacy network, a group that includes three Hazaras..

On the UN stage, these Hazaras are challenging the world to tackle the refugee crisis. SBS Dari

Up to 220 Indonesians could be compensated after children wrongly jailed in Australia as people smugglers. By Christopher Knaus, The Guardian

The prosecutions, launched in the highly charged political climate around border protection, led to children as young as 12 being jailed in maximum security adult prisons in Western Australia.

A Guardian Australia investigation last year revealed that police relied on the technique despite being aware of information casting serious doubt on its reliability and accuracy.

Up to 220 Indonesians could be compensated after children wrongly jailed in Australia as people smugglers. By Christopher Knaus, The Guardian

Court rules parts of NSW protest laws are 'invalid' after challenge by Knitting Nannas activists. By Xanthe Gregory and Heath Parkes-Hupton, ABC News

Helen Kvelde and Dominique Jacobs, members of activist group the Knitting Nannas, launched a challenge in the NSW Supreme Court through the Environmental Defenders Office in October 2022.

They argued section 214A of the Crimes Act 1900 and clause 48A(1) of the Roads Regulation 2018 were "unconstitutional as they impermissibly burden the implied freedom of political communication of the NSW community".

Court rules parts of NSW protest laws are 'invalid' after challenge by Knitting Nannas activists. By Xanthe Gregory and Heath Parkes-Hupton, ABC News

The migration strategy won’t silence Dutton but Labor is backing away from the feared Big Australia. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

The politics of migration turned in the new year, when an explosion in the number of arrivals since Covid border restrictions were lifted pushed up net overseas migration.

In his budget reply, Dutton warned Australia was on track to add more than the population of Adelaide in five years and the Coalition started to link the issue to surging rents.

The migration strategy won't silence Dutton but Labor is backing away from the feared Big Australia. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

Indonesia faces criticism over plan to deport Rohingya to Myanmar. By Arie Firdaus and Nazarudin Latif, Benar News

Ma’ruf, the vice president, suggested the Rohingya be settled temporarily on the island near Singapore.

“We used Galang island for Vietnamese refugees in the past. We will discuss it again. I think the government must take action,” Ma’ruf said on Tuesday.

Galang housed about 250,000 Vietnamese refugees, known as “boat people,” from 1979 to 1996. The UNHCR built healthcare facilities, schools, places of worship and cemeteries.

Ma’ruf said the government could not turn away the Rohingya, but also had to consider local people’s objections and the possibility of more refugees arriving.

Indonesia faces criticism over plan to deport Rohingya to Myanmar. By Arie Firdaus and Nazarudin Latin, Benar News

From Vietnam to Australia, a refugee doctor’s journey. By Ian Webster, P&I

On 23 November, a boatload of asylum seekers was dispatched to Nauru for offshore detention. They were found wandering the coast of Western Australia by Aboriginal people, three days earlier. This has been Australian policy for unauthorised boat arrivals since 2013; 10 arrivals in the past year. But there was a time when asylum seekers were welcome.

Such is the story of Vietnamese refugee doctor, Sang Phan, his wife Kim Chau, and their children Thanh, Lan Huong, and Tri. Of escape from Vietnam and the perils of an ocean journey in a small boat. A journey of apprehension and uncertainty – including a baby delivered by Sang Phan in the vast Indian ocean – to Indonesia, Malaysia, and finally to Brisbane, and then, Sydney.

From Vietnam to Australia, a refugee doctor's journey. By Ian Webster, P & I

After growing up Iranian in Ballarat, I know it to be a welcoming place – a hate march won’t change that. By Dellaram Vreeland, The Guardian

Nowadays there are several organisations dedicated to multiculturalism and interfaith promotion and schools are starting to acknowledge a variety of cultural celebrations. The narrative is changing. Migrants are not viewed as foreign entities with everything to take and nothing to give; communities are rallying around refugees and assisting with resettlement, which then has a flow-on effect on the overall economy.

Many rural Australians are dedicating their time to sponsoring refugees from afar. Our food, businesses, the health and education sector, the arts and entertainment scene — all flourish thanks to the contribution of our multicultural communities.

After growing up Iranian in Ballarat, I know it to be a welcoming place – a hate march won’t change that. By Dellaram Vreeland, The Guardian

Immigration detention fallout: People released are 'set up to fail', experts say. By Madeleine Wedesweiler, SBS

Dickinson said clients the centre had spoken to were getting headspins from hunger.

"They're not sure how long they're staying in their current accommodation. They're not sure what support is available to them, and they're in limbo and in fear. And then on top of that, they're subjected to incomprehensible conditions and quite extraordinary public debate suggesting they should be locked up forever, more or less," she said.

Some clients said they feel too ashamed to go outside and were significantly impaired by the nature of their release, she added.

Immigration detention fallout: People released are 'set up to fail', experts say. By Madeleine Wedesweiler, SBS

Labor’s preventive detention regime passes Senate as third freed immigration detainee arrested. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

After Labor and the Coalition voted together to bring the bill on, Cash said the government are “finally” doing what the opposition leader had demanded, to allow “law enforcement agencies to lock up high risk individuals who have been roaming free”.

Cash revealed the Coalition will move a “modest” amendment requiring the minister to “report to parliament every time one of these dangerous individuals is released into the community”.

The amendment was voted down, but the Coalition and Labor combined to pass the bill shortly after 6:30pm. It will go to the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Earlier, the Greens senator, Nick McKim, accused the major parties of “a race to the bottom” to demonise refugees, with “xenophobic” legislation that “only applies to foreigners”.

Labor’s preventive detention regime passes Senate as third freed immigration detainee arrested. By Paul Karp, The Guardian

Dutton’s border protection rhetoric is nothing like his border protection record. By Abul Rizvi, P&I

Dutton will know the vast majority of these people will never be removed from Australia and are likely to live in the Australian community for the rest of their lives. But he will nevertheless enjoy making life hell for the Government for as long as he can.

Dutton’s actual border protection record

Most Australians would be surprised to learn that while Dutton was Home Affairs Minister, Australia experienced the biggest labour trafficking scam abusing the asylum system in our history.

Dutton’s border protection rhetoric is nothing like his border protection record. By Abul Rizvi, P&I

Labor’s new laws to re-detain migrants at risk of reoffending to be modelled on Coalition’s anti-terror orders. By Daniel Hurst, The Guardian

The Albanese government is close to finalising new laws to re-detain migrants and refugees deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending, amid an escalating political fight.

Labor’s new laws to re-detain migrants at risk of reoffending to be modelled on Coalition’s anti-terror orders. By Daniel Hurst, The Guardian

High Court reasons on immigration ruling pave way for further legislation. By Daniel Ghezelbash and Anna Talbot, UNSW

The court made it clear that a person must be released from detention when there was no real prospect of them being deported in the foreseeable future. Previously, there was no limit to the length of time people could be detained in immigration detention in Australian law. In fact, people could legally be detained for the rest of their lives without ever being found guilty of a crime.

High Court reasons on immigration ruling pave way for further legislation. By Daniel Ghezelbash and Anna Talbot, UNSW

Opinion : The Australian detention system was established to destroy us, but we refugees are still here. By Behrouz Boochani, The Guardian

This week, I, alongside a group of advocates, refugees and politicians, stepped into the Australian parliament to launch a campaign for a royal commission into the Australian detention system. For me, this moment marked the culmination of a decade of waiting and fighting to expose this system – a surreal and historic moment for refugees who have experienced the brutality and violence of the detention industry.

Opinion : The Australian detention system was established to destroy us, but we refugees are still here. By Behrouz Boochani, The Guardian