Australia to stop controversial practice of asylum seeker detentions in PNG
Canberra, AustraliaReuters Australia will stop detaining asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea at the end of December, the two countries said on Wednesday, as Canberra shuts one of two remote Pacific detention centres that have been criticised by the United Nations. Under Australia’s hardline immigration policies, asylum seekers attempting to reach the country by boat […]
Sudanese refugee detained on Manus island wins prestigious human rights prize
Thomson Reuters Foundation A Sudanese refugee stuck in an Australian detention centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea for five years has been awarded a major international human rights prize for revealing the harsh reality of Canberra’s off-shore refugee policy. Abdul Aziz Muhamat, 25, was named the 2019 Martin Ennals Laureate on Thursday for […]
Australian humanitarian agencies call for urgent response to “mental health crisis” facing refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island
Refugees and asylum seekers still on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea are being robbed of their freedom, denied all hope and condemned to “terrible suffering”, according to World Vision Australia’s chief advocate, Tim Costello. Mr Costello recently led a delegation representing Australian humanitarian agencies on a fact-finding mission to Papua New Guinea conducted under […]
SIGHT-SEEING: WHAT MANUS ISLAND REFUGEES HAVE TAUGHT ME ABOUT FOLLOWING JESUS
NILS VON KALM reflects on the “uncomfortable” nature of what it means to follow Jesus…
St Vincent de Paul Society calls on Australian members to write to PM about concerns over men on Manus Island
The St Vincent de Paul Society has called on its Australian members to write to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and express their “deep and urgent” concern for the safety of 600 men who remain in the Australian refugee processing centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. The 600 men have refused to leave the […]
ESSAY: WHY WE SHOULD BRING THE ASYLUM SEEKERS ON MANUS AND NAURU TO AUSTRALIA
After four years of Australia’s offshore asylum seeker detention program, SUSAN ANDERSON, of World Vision Australia, says it’s high time those being held on Manus Island and Nauru were brought to Australia…
More than 70 organisations and community groups call for an end to Australia’s offshore detention policy
Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, World Vision Australia and the Refugee Council of Australia are among more than 70 organisations and community groups which have signed an open letter calling upon the Australian Government to end it’s policy of offshore detention for asylum seekers and refugees. Released on the weekend, the letter says that that situation regarding […]
Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce “cautiously optimistic” after Australia announces US resettlement deal
The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce has welcomed what it describes as an “acknowledgement” from the Turnbull Government that arrangements for asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru are “unsustainable” after the Federal Government announced plans to resettle some of them in the US. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday announced what he described as a “one-off” […]
Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce says Australian Government bid to enshrine ban on refugees in law will create further “fear, uncertainty and trauma”
Christian refugee advocates have said proposed laws aimed at banning refugees permanently from ever obtaining a visa to Australia will “create further fear, uncertainty and trauma” among those who have ever been transferred to the regional processing centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. Under the proposed legislative amendments announced by Prime Minister Malcolm […]
Catholic sisters call on Australian PM to give “amnesty” to asylum seekers on Manus
Sisters from Catholic religious orders across Australia have signed a statement calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to issue an “amnesty” for asylum seekers held on Manus Island. Sr Monica Cavanagh, congregational leader of the Sisters of St Joseph, said celebrations in Sydney this week surrounding the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters […]