Fact sheets and information on the Australian government’s refugee policies
Temporary protection visas and refugees in the community
Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers have been released into the community on cruel bridging, temporary protection and safe-haven enterprise visas, which deny refugees basic social support and force them into poverty.
Basic facts on refugees, 2017 or download pdf version here
Covering some of the basic myths and facts about refugees, like “queue jumping”, people smuggling and why we aren’t facing a “flood” of refugees
The facts on refugees, updated June 2017 (Refugee Action Coalition) or download pdf version here
A more detailed fact sheet on the basic issues around refugees
Offshore processing: Why Manus and Nauru must close updated February 2018 or download pdf version here
Why asylum seekers are detained offshore, what conditions are like on Manus Island and Nauru and the deaths and abuse suffered by refugees there
People smuggling and how government policy causes deaths at sea or download pdf here (updated June 2015)
Successive Australian governments have used people smuggling to attempt to criminalise asylum seekers themselves. People associate people smuggling with illegal activity, when it is not illegal to claim asylum at all.
The government has tried to claim the humanitarian high ground, saying that its efforts to “stop the boats” are designed to stop asylum seekers making dangerous boat journeys and avoid deaths at sea. They are nothing of the sort.
Old fact sheets
Life in Cambodia: the facts, May 2015 or download pdf version here
The government describes Cambodia as full of ‘opportunities’ for refugees sent there. We outline the facts about life in Cambodia, the world’s 48th poorest country.
What really happened on Manus Island, March 2014 or download pdf version here
Explaining how Reza Barati was killed and at least 62 other asylum seekers injured during an attack on the Manus Island detention centre on 17 February 2014
ASIO negative refugees and detention for life (October 2013) or download pdf here
Villawood visiting and refugee activism or download pdf here
Why Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are not safe
The government is currently trying to deport asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, these fact sheets explains why Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are not safe, especially for persecuted groups like the Tamils and Hazaras
Why do some asylum seekers destroy their passports?
People often ask why asylum seekers don’t have passports or other identity documents when they arrive. This fact sheet explains why many legitimate refugees are forced to do so.
Asylum seeker statistics
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (Melbourne) has up to date statistics on numbers of asylum seekers in Australia, numbers in detention, cost of detention and self-harm statistics
Visit the page or download the pdf here
The “Malaysian solution”, May 2011 (Refugee Action Coalition)
Ten myths about Australia’s plan to swap refugees with Malaysia (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre)
Australia’s legal obligations to refugees, February 2011 (Refugee Action Coalition)
Includes information on offshore processing and the implications of the last year’s High Court decision on its legality
Myths about the differences between judicial review, merits review, procedural fairness and natural justice in refugee law
Debunking the myths on refugees, August 2010 (Refugee Action Coalition)
Statistics on number of boat arrivals
Stats compiled by Project SafeCom
Visa freeze fact sheet, April 2010 (Refugee Action Coalition)
Indonesian solution fact sheet, December 2009 (Refugee Action Coalition)
http://refugeeactioncoalitionsydney.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/fact-sheet-indo-solution.pdf
RAC Victoria fact sheets
Fact sheet on the Siev X tragedy, 19 October 2001, when 353 asylum seekers drowned (prepared by RAC Canberra)
http://www.refugeeaction.org/downloads/siev-x.pdf
Asylum seeker Resource Centre fact sheets
Myths about queue jumping, that we face a “flood” of refugees, that refugees are wasting tax payers money
Fact sheet on the “East Timor solution” and off-shore processing
Edmund Rice Centre fact sheets
