Welcome back to our new series in the lead up to the next federal election (due by May next year), where I’m asking leaders and advocates to share facts and information about the issues they get up and work for every day – and we vote on.
The aim of this series is to help you make an informed vote on the issues impacting us all and highlight tangible actions we can all take. You can read the first piece in this series on women’s reproductive health and abortion here.
Today, Jana Favero from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) tells us about the key facts we should know about asylum seekers both here in Australia and in offshore detention, and dispels some of the misinformation and disinformation we should be aware of.
Jana has been with the ASRC for over 14 years and is now the Deputy CEO and Head of Systemic Change responsible for law and policy reform, political engagement and media.
Below, Jana shares more on what we should all know about asylum seekers and refugees ahead of the next election and how we can show our support.
Could you tell us about about the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre?
Founded in 2001, the ASRC is Australia’s largest human rights organisation currently providing support to 7,035 people seeking asylum in the community in Victoria and in detention nationally and offshore.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation offering more than 40 programs such as a human rights law program and specialist gender clinic, Foodbank, Women’s Group, Housing program, employment program and two social enterprises (ASRC Catering and ASRC Cleaning). Our programs are supported by over 500 volunteers that protect people seeking asylum from persecution and destitution, support well-being, connection and dignity, and empower people to advance their own future. Alongside service delivery, we also advocate with people seeking asylum to create lasting social and policy change.
In our 23 year history we have never accepted federal government funding – this is for two reasons. One to enable us to be completely independent, and two the only reason we exist is the failures and intentional cruel policy choices of successive federal governments.
Could you share some key facts about asylum seekers and their position in Australia?
When people think of human rights breaches, they often think of what’s happening overseas not realising that for some in Australia their human rights are breached every day. This is the reality for people seeking asylum, men, women and children living on temporary visas, often having to renew them regularly, many without the right to work OR access to social services forcing them to rely on community organisations such as the ASRC to avoid poverty and destitution. Or kept in detention indefinitely and separated from family or detained offshore in places such as Nauru and PNG. And the reason, simply because they sought safety and protection in Australia.
For decades, people seeking asylum and refugees have been demonised as refugee policy has been used as a political football.
Starting with the Tampa in 2001 and, most recently, the ugly debate and narratives late last year after the NZYQ high court decision (and subsequent legislation), politics heavily influenced the way refugees are treated and spoken about. Front page headlines demonising refugees lately is a firm reminder that refugees are still weaponised by politicians in the hope of winning votes and elections. This intensifies during election periods, such as the last minute text message scare campaign on election day in 2022. This politicisation of what should be a humanitarian issue began with John Howard and has shaped the tone and narratives of election campaigns since. On the back of the US election result and narratives so far this year, we expect the 2025 federal election campaign to be particularly toxic demonising people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants.
What is the mis and disinformation to have on our radar with asylum seekers?
Politicians often resort to a predictable playbook of fear and division instead of leading with compassion and upholding people’s human rights. On a daily basis, we are faced with misinformation such as in response to the High Court case last year which (rightly) found that refugees could not be kept in immigration detention indefinitely. But rather than respect the rule of law and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives, the toxic narratives and demonisation of refugees that followed were horrific.
We have seen this continue, as recently as today the Albanese Government introduced another bill in Parliament to circumvent a court decision and punish refugees and people seeking asylum with comments such as ”we don’t want them in Australia at all”. What’s lost in this rhetoric is that these are people who have been punished again and again. For those who served a sentence of imprisonment determined by courts, unlike any other Australian, they were then unconstitutionally detained, often for years. When that was deemed unlawful, they were further singled out, with the imposition of conditions the High Court this week confirmed as unconstitutional and punitive.
Legal representation is critical for people seeking asylum, with the system stacked against them. People with gender and sexuality claims face additional barriers and are routinely denied fair process, despite the sensitivity of their claims and often, the Department refuses even to interview them. The process can be deeply traumatic and one in which they are denied the opportunity to share their stories. For this reason, 9 years ago, the ASRC established a Gender Clinic which sits within the ASRC’s Human Rights Law Program (HRLP), and provides specialised legal assistance to people seeking asylum due to persecution on the basis of their gender or sexuality, as well as people seeking asylum who are experiencing domestic abuse here in Australia. In the past year, we have seen a 60 per cent increase in requests for legal assistance.
What can we all do to address the issues raised?
While people seeking asylum are demonised, we know that there is a large community of compassion who can make a difference.
Earlier this year, we avoided a deportation bill passing parliament thanks to the collective action of tens of thousands of people. And there are some seats that have been won on compassionate refugee policy. We need to keep reminding politicians that communities demand compassion and the fair treatment of refugees.
The most powerful way to take action is to contact your local MP and demand the fair treatment of refugees.
You can find out more about ASRC’s current campaigns here . Also follow ASRC on social media and share our content, it’s a powerful way to counter the misinformation coming from politicians and media.
Feature image: Jana Favero.