Policy and law updates
Any developments in law or policy affecting refugees and people seeking asylum will be added here.
ADVOCACY
Take action now
Labor is now attempting to rush three damaging Bills through parliament. To have your voice heard you must call by Wednesday 27 November.
Updated November 2024
FACTSHEET
Current visa options for newly arrived Palestinians and Israelis in Australia
The Australian Government recently announced the availability of a temporary humanitarian visa pathway for recently arrived Palestinians and Israelis. A temporary humanitarian visa pathway is a two-stage process that involves the grant of a Temporary Safe Haven (Subclass 449) Visa and then a Temporary Humanitarian Concern (Subclass 786) Visa.
Our Palestine fact sheet can be found here, under Emerging Legal Issues. Our Israel fact sheet can be found here.
FACTSHEET
Permanent visas for Ukrainians
This fact sheet sets out the rules around eligibility for a permanent visa if you are Ukrainian and hold a Temporary Humanitarian Concern (Subclass 786) Visa.
Read the fact sheet here, under Emerging Legal Issues.
Updated October 2024
FACTSHEET
Information about the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
This Fact Sheet provides brief information about the formation of the new Administrative Review Tribunal. This Fact Sheet is for people who arrived in Australia by either plane or boat, and who have received a negative decision about their Protection Visa application or a visa cancellation decision from the Department of Home Affairs (Department).
Updated July 2024
Updated May 2024
Information on how the 2024 Budget impacts refugees and people seeking asylum
Information courtesy of Kaldor Centre
Updated April 2024
Funding available for Australian communities affected by Hamas-Israel conflict
The Australian Government will be giving up to $2 million in emergency financial assistance to people from significantly impacted areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.
Funding is for those who have arrived in Australia on a temporary visa and who have been assessed to be in financial hardship.
Small cash payments of between $1,500 and $3,500 for short-term immediate needs are being offered.
Apply via the Australian Red Cross - you will need basic documents such as a passport, visa grant number, bank statements. Decisions will be based on financial hardship and eligibility criteria.
If you cannot work while waiting for your protection visa application to be assessed by the Department, please contact RACS to talk about your options.
📞 (02) 8355 7227 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, Monday to Friday
✉️ admin@racs.org.au
Updated March 2024
Compensation for immigration data breach
The Australian Government has established a Compensation Assessment Scheme to compensate victims of a data breach that occurred in February 2014. Norton Rose Fulbright Australia is administering this scheme.
The data breach affected around 9,000 people in immigration or community detention. Information about the Scheme and eligibility here.
Important note: RACS is not involved in this Scheme and anyone affected (including RACS clients) should contact Norton Rose Fulbright for assistance.
Updated October 2023
Resolution of Status visas
In February 2023, the Federal Government announced a pathway to permanency for those on a TPV or SHEV in the form of the Resolution of Status visa.
People who hold a Temporary Protection Visa or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (TPV or SHEV) are now eligible to apply for a permanent visa, Resolution of Status Visa (Subclass 851) from 14 February 2023 onwards.
As this has implications for people assessed under the Fast Track Process, it is important to get legal advice about your current situation and status in Australia.
To find out more, please see our factsheets on the legal information page.
See our legal information page for details of the above changes.
If you need legal help, contact us:
📞 (02) 8355 7227
10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, Monday to Friday
✉️ admin@racs.org.au
Message us on Facebook: @RACSAustralia
Please note that while our Facebook inbox is monitored, there may be delays in replies.