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Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Hasty detainee laws raise human rights concerns 

Read an opinion piece from Australia's Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay raising concerns about the passage of new laws responding to the fallout from the recent NZYQ High Court decision.

Commission commends High Court ruling on indefinite immigration detention

Content type: Media Release
Published:

The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed yesterday’s High Court ruling which determined that Australia’s system of indefinite immigration detention is unlawful. 

The landmark decision overturns almost two decades of the practice by Australian authorities in finding it is unlawful to hold a person in immigration detention when there is no real prospect of them being removed from Australia in the foreseeable future. 

Racism. It Stops With Me campaign relaunch

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'Racism. It Stops With Me' is a national campaign calling on Australians who have not had lived experience of racism to reflect on its causes and impacts and commit to action. No matter how challenging the conversation, we need to talk about racism and the causes of inequality. By taking a stand against racism, we can build a fair and equal society – for all.

Inspection report: Serious human rights concerns in hotel detention

Content type: Media Release
Published:

Explore an inspection report by the Commission that found serious human rights concerns persist in the use of hotels as alternative places of detention.

The Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention

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Overview

The Australian Human Rights Commission conducts ongoing monitoring of conditions in detention to ensure that Australia’s immigration detention system complies with our obligations under international human rights law.

Australia’s immigration authorities use hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (commonly known as APODs) instead of housing some people in immigration detention centres.  

Australia’s international obligations

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Australia is obliged under international law to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees, regardless of how or where they arrive.

Joint Statement on the use of hotel APODs

Content type: Media Release
Published:

This Statement provides guidance on the short-term use of hotel APODs, including access to open‑air exercise, access to meaningful programs and activities, and the need to ensure medical and welfare services are of the same standard as those provided in other immigration detention facilities.

Joint Statement on the use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention

Novak Djokovic drew global attention to Australia's immigration detention regime. Now we need proper scrutiny of all places of detention

Novak Djokovic’s recent detention at Melbourne’s Park Hotel drew international attention to Australia’s use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention by immigration authorities. But while Djokovic’s detention was measured in days, others still remaining in the Park H

Statement on ending offshore processing in PNG

Content type: Media Release
Published:

The Australian Human Rights Commission acknowledges the Federal Government’s announcement that it will stop the offshore processing of asylum seekers on Papua New Guinea at the end of 2021.