RACS 2023 in review
2023 has been a significant year for refugees and people seeking asylum. RACS has witnessed the life-changing effects of developments in humanitarian and immigration law and policy. We have collated some of the biggest news of 2023 here in this review.
February: Resolution of Status Visa
In February, the Australian Government announced that people seeking safety in Australia who were eligible to hold, or holding, a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) would now have a pathway to permanency. The introduction of a Resolution of Status Visa (Subclass 851) affected more than 19,000 people who had waited over a decade for certainty about their future in Australia.
The RoS announcement propelled RACS into action. Over the course of the year, we have helped more than 2,000 people apply for this permanent visa. As of December, RACS has secured RoS visas for over 700 of these people, with more to come!
To read more about the Resolution of Status visa, click here.
March: Community Information Sessions
Following the announcement of the RoS visa, RACS held 26 community sessions for those affected by the changes to TPVs and SHEVs. The sessions were held to provide refugees from affected communities and their supporters with current legal information and advice from RACS lawyers. Translators ensured each session was accessible.
RACS regularly runs community information sessions. To see recent and upcoming sessions, click here.
April: Mahboba’s Promise on Australian Story
Sarah Dale, RACS’s Principal Solicitor and Centre Director, featured in the ABC’s Australian Story program following the incredible efforts of an Australian mother and son, Mahboba Rawi & Nawid (Sourosh) Cina. Mahboba and Nawid helped evacuate vulnerable children, women and carers from an orphanage in Afghanistan when the Taliban took control.
Having been unable to access the emergency evacuation flights to Australia, a new pathway to safety had to be found for these children and their carers most at risk.
Sarah Dale spoke to the complexity of supporting an evacuation mission such as this.
Watch the episode here.
May: Walk for Justice
Every year on National Pro Bono Day, members of the legal community walk together in capital cities around Australia. The event celebrates the pro bono work of the legal profession and is independently organised as a fundraiser in each state.
RACS and the National Justice Project coordinated the NSW Walk for Justice on Tuesday 16 May, which raised funds for the work of both our organisations.
See RACS’s pro bono law firm partners here.
June: Last refugees off Nauru
By the end of June, the last refugees had been evacuated off Nauru. However, 23 people have since been sent back to Nauru, with no clear number on how many people are now in offshore detention in Nauru. Dozens of people also remain in detention in Papua New Guinea. Since July 2013, over 3,000 people who sought safety in Australia have been taken to offshore detention in Nauru and PNG.
“We must bring an end to this policy in its totality. Justice will not be served until a permanent place to call home is found for all needing protection, and we don’t rest until this is found,” RACS Principal Solicitor and Centre Director, Sarah Dale, said.
Read more here.
July: 10 years of Operation Sovereign Borders
On 19 July 2013, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that all people seeking asylum by boat would be transferred and detained offshore and would never be allowed to settle in Australia. This year marked a decade of this policy.
“Rudd’s announcement 10 years ago continues to underpin Australia’s asylum policy and is used as a template by countries around the world. It is not a policy we should be proud of,” RACS Supervising Senior Solicitor, Arif Hussein, said.
Read more here.
August: FIFA Women’s World Cup
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup began in August, hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The tournament showcased the best of women’s soccer and brought the whole nation together to celebrate the Matildas. RACS believes sport has the power to bring humanity together and we witnessed that in this tournament.
September: Sarah Dale celebrates 10 years at RACS
Sarah Dale, RACS Centre Director and Principal Solicitor, marked ten years at RACS this year!
When Sarah joined RACS in 2013, she had already spent a number of years working with people seeking asylum and refugees in visa cancellation and civil law issues. Thanks to Sarah’s tireless efforts, RACS functions as a leader in refugee law and policy.
Sarah went on to win the Law Society of NSW’s Community Service Award, announced in December.
To read more about Sarah’s achievements, click here.
October: Christmas Island and The Voice
Christmas Island now empty
The last people detained in immigration detention on Christmas Island were brought to the Australian mainland. However, the detention centre was to remain open as a “contingency”.
Read more here.
The Voice Referendum
On 14 October 2023, Australians voted in the Voice referendum. The referendum proposed to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. It was the first referendum of the 21st century.
The referendum did not pass.
To read our statement of support for the Referendum, click here.
November: High Court overturns indefinite detention and Behrouz Boochani visits Australia
Landmark High Court decision
The High Court of Australia ruled that Australia’s system of indefinite immigration detention is unlawful. The NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor case found that indefinite immigration is unconstitutional, overturning the decision made in Al-Kateb v Godwin in 2004. This landmark decision rightly brought Australia in step with international standards for human rights, which have always found indefinite detention to be unlawful.
However, the immediate fallout from this decision is deeply concerning. To read our full statement, click here.
In Conversation with Behrouz Boochani
In November we welcomed award-winning author and refugee advocate Behrouz Boochani back to Sydney, for an evening of insightful discussion at Belvoir St Theatre. Joined by Jan Fran and Daniel Ghezelbash, Behrouz discussed the state of Australia’s humanitarian policy and the detrimental effects of offshore detention.
To read more, click here.