As a unionist and passionate advocate for human rights and social justice, I firmly believe that Australia must have a responsibility to extend our hands to those seeking safety, security, and a better future. I have listened to our community far and wide in advocating for compassion and support and offering those most vulnerable the opportunity to rebuild their lives in the country that we're all so lucky to call home. Labor believes in humanity over fear, compassion over cruelty, and justice over indifference when it comes to refugees and asylum seekers.
Refugees
What have we done
- Increased support for refugees globally and provided an additional $265 million in funding.
- Increased the humanitarian program to 20,000 places helping people fleeing global crises settle in Australia and adjust to life in Australia.
- Brought home the Biloela Family
- Moved migrants on Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders move onto Resolution of Status visas (RoS), enabling them to move forward with their lives and become part of the community.
- Ended offshore detention and resettled the last refugees on Nauru while increasing mental health support services for refugees.
- Committed $160 million to improve Australia’s refugee protection system and deal with backlogs and processing delays including $48 million extra funding for legal assistance services.
A New Path Forward: Compassion, Justice, and Safety
Labor is committed to:
✔️ Welcoming refugees with dignity and respect.
✔️ Creating a fairer and more efficient asylum process, where people are processed quickly and fairly, and given the chance to rebuild their lives.
✔️ Offering a pathway to permanent residency for people who have been in Australia for years on temporary protection visas.
✔️ Supporting refugees to settle and thrive—with access to support services, education, and employment.
Australia has a proud tradition of offering a fair go to those in need—and Labor will continue that tradition. We believe that refugees deserve a future, not just survival. We can build a society that is not only safe but compassionate and just for everyone.
