The politics of fear failed – now Labor must deliver for refugees

Voters at this Federal election decisively rejected fear and division. The national swing against the Liberal party sent a clear message to all politicians: Australians want a politics grounded in fairness, compassion and justice — including for refugees and people seeking asylum.

The Albanese Government now enters a second term with an increased mandate and a renewed opportunity to lead with humanity. With positive refugee policies in the ALP platform, it must act quickly and decisively to deliver lasting change.

Three years ago, at the last Federal Election, refugees and people seeking asylum celebrated the end of a decade of cruelty. There was hope that Labor would restore dignity — through permanent protection, family reunification and the chance to rebuild their lives. But for tens of thousands, that hope has not yet turned into meaningful change.

Despite some initial reforms, too many people are still stuck in limbo — denied permanency, separated from family and excluded from the basic rights and supports they need to live safely.

The Albanese Government now has the power, and the responsibility, to deliver. The first 100 days of this new term must set the tone: end the decade of harm and build a fair, humane refugee policy grounded in protection and justice.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is calling on the Albanese Government to:

– Prioritise providing pathways to permanency for the 8,500 people failed by the flawed Fast Track process, who have been languishing in limbo for over a decade.

– Medically evacuate refugees and people seeking asylum in PNG and Nauru to Australia and prioritise their resettlement. Urgent action is required to address the worsening health crisis and human rights abuses occurring in offshore detention centres.

– Repeal punitive amendments made to the Migration Act in 2024. These laws allow the Minister for Home Affairs to deport people, overturn their protection finding, and ban people from certain countries from entering Australia.

– Provide people seeking asylum with the right to work and study, access to Medicare, and a means-tested income safety net throughout the refugee determination process. People are being forced into destitution while they wait for up to a decade for their visa outcome.

With a majority in Parliament, Labor now has both the mandate and the opportunity to end cruelty and deliver long-overdue fairness for refugees and people seeking asylum.

Rathy Barthlote, Human Rights Activist and refugee from Sri Lanka, said:

“I’ve spent over a decade building a life in Australia. My children were born here, this is our home. Like thousands of others, I’ve worked hard, paid taxes, and contributed to my community, yet we remain trapped in limbo by the broken Fast Track system. The harm it has caused is deep and ongoing. We are still waiting for justice. Labor now has both the power and the responsibility to fix this: if not now, when?”

Sobia Shah, Founder of the Professional Migrant Women’s Network, said:

“People seeking asylum are locked out of work, study and basic supports — and Labor now has a clear mandate to fix it. Excluding people seeking asylum from child care subsidies punishes families and holds women back. Even Australian citizen children are missing out just because their parents are seeking asylum.

“We are ready to work, study and contribute — but the system keeps shutting us out.”

Person seeking asylum on Nauru (who asked to remain anonymous), said:

“When we first came to Nauru we were healthy. The longer we are here, the more sick we become and we cannot get treatment here on Nauru. We cannot afford to eat three meals a day. There is no resettlement for us. We are scared and we don’t know what will happen to us.”

Refugee on PNG (who asked to remain anonymous), said:

“It is nearly twelve years we have been kept here in this hell. The pain is unbearable for one minute, what about twelve years?  Resettlement is too slow. It is dangerous here and we are unsafe. I am not well and my mind does not work anymore.  The Australian government must help us get out from here.”

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said:

“Across the country, migrants and refugees mobilised throughout the election campaign, demanding fair treatment and compassionate policies. While many were scapegoated and demonised by candidates attempting to distract from real issues, refugees resisted — challenging misinformation and supporting progressive candidates at forums, pre-polling booths and on election day. Hoping that voters would see through the politics of fear and vote for compassion.

“The re-elected Albanese Government can now turn people’s hope into reality and provide fairness, safety and freedom to thousands of people seeking asylum in our community. In all the talk about and commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of Australians and opportunity for everyone to be their best, people seeking asylum and refugees must be included in this.”

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