When Australians talk about people seeking asylum, the discussion tends to be ’emotional and often not very thought through’, but the Kaldor Centre Principles for Australian Refugee Policy challenge us to change…
Cuts to asylum seeker welfare create surge in demand for food and housing
Community-based asylum seekers expected to support themselves but advocates say many not ‘job ready’ Luke Henriques-Gomes, 23 Apr 2019 A Coalition government decision to slash income support for community-based asylum seekers has…
Territory puts out welcome mat
Chief Minister, Andrew Barr has announced that Canberra officially became a Welcoming City on last week’s Harmony Day (21 March). Mr Barr said the ACT’s membership of the network of welcoming cities demonstrated…
The psychology of fear and hate, and what each of us can do to stop it
Stephen Croucher, Massey University As an immigrant to New Zealand, I am saddened and outraged by the events in Christchurch. The apparent innocence of New Zealand has been stripped away by acts…
Lost in no man’s land
Dil is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the increasingly dry, hard, Two Wells soil. The novice farmer is banking on a decent zucchini crop to support his wife and…
Arms opened for refugees 10 years ago
On one wall of Tulshi Gu- ragai’s living room, there are certificates from La Trobe University. On the other are paintings of Hindu deities. Just as two cultures have equal pride of…
Children shouldn’t be used as a people smuggler deterrent
Founder of Welcome to Australia, Brad Chilcott, says the government should adopt Labor’s ‘compromise’ position to get children off Nauru ‘as quickly as possible.’ Watch interview – Sky News
Eight Melbourne Mayors Gathered Together to Defend the South-Sudanese Community
A group of eight Melbourne mayors gathered together in Brunswick today and take a stand against the media furore over “African gangs”. Mayors from Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Whittlesea, Yarra, Knox, Monash, and Melton took…
Melbourne mayors speak out against ‘racist African gangs headlines’
Melbourne mayors have come out in solidarity with their South Sudanese residents after months of the inflamed African gangs debate. Darebin, Hume, Whittlesea, Moreland, Yarra, Knox, Monash and Melton mayors described the commentary…
Pushing casual sport to the margins threatens cities’ social cohesion
Park soccer, social cricket and street basketball bring the public spaces of our cities to life. For many of the most marginalised communities, access to public space for sport is crucial for…