Our next meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 AT 6.30PM.
Minutes of our Annual General Meeting and ordinary meeting which followed dated 27 August 2025, can be accessed via thelink L4RNSW-ACTMinAGM&OrdMtg27Aug25
Election of Office Bearers
The following Office Bearers were elected at our Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 27 August 2025.
Outgoing Office Bearers, Co-Convenor Shane Prince and Assistant Secretary/Webmaster Cath Crittenden, were thanked for their many years of contribution to our Committee. We look forward to seeing them at our meetings.
ALP NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 – correction
The date for the next ALP triennial National Conference, which appeared in our last newsletter, was incorrect. The correct date is the 23rd, 24th & 25th August 2026. It will take place in Adelaide.
The Anti-Fairness Act
Since the Government passed the Anti-Fairness Bill on the 4 September 2025, much has been said and written by concerned refugee advocacy groups.
In response to this new law, which has the potential to remove basic legal protections, we have drafted a motion that can be used by branch members, to express their opposition to this law. The background to our motion, sets out the reasons for our concerns and the motion itself, calls on the Labor Government to commit to a raft of demands.
We encourage you to take this motion to your next branch meeting and ask your branch members to endorse it.
People with disabilities in Immigration Detention
Since the end of last year, Labor for Refugees has sent letters to the Immigration Minister and Attorney-General, urging the Government to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission to remove the migration system’s exemption from disability discrimination law. A link to these letters were included in our last newsletter in August.
We have since established that there is a Review being held by the Attorney-General’s Dept into the Disability Discrimination Act as part of the government response to the Disability Royal Commission. The government committed $6.9 million to the review and modernisation of the Disability Discrimination Act and asked the Attorney-General’s Dept to lead it. The Review will consider options to implement the 15 recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission, as well as further changes to improve the experiences of people with disability.
Public consultation on the review is now open until the 24 October 2025.
Labor for Refugees will make a submission to this Review. We will be asking that Section 52 of the Disability Discrimination Act be reviewed to remove the migration system’s exemption from disability discrimination law. These exemption clauses mean that protections do not extend to people in Australia’s justice and migration system, namely refugees with disabilities. It is most important that this flaw be rectified and that refugees with disabilities are also protected from discrimination.
The myth about Immigration numbers
There appears to be a world-wide backlash against migrants, who are an easy target for the woes of our societies. You can see it in the numerous anti-immigration rallies being held, including in Australia.
The issue of migration has been used by conservative and right-wing forces, as a political tool to whip up resentment of migrants by distorting the facts. While we do need to hold a public discourse about migration numbers, we need to clear up some misconceptions.
Common misconceptions about Australian immigration numbers include the belief that migration is at record high levels and causing economic problems like inflation and housing shortages, whereas net migration has been significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, with the post-COVID rebound smaller than the previous drop.
Another misconception is that immigration negatively impacts employment and the economy, when migrants often fill workforce gaps and contribute to economic growth. There’s also an overestimation of the proportion of immigrants from certain regions and an overemphasis on refugees, when most migrants move for work, education, or lifestyle reasons.
Common Misconceptions & Reality Myth: Migration is at record high levels and booming post-pandemic.
Reality: Net overseas migration (NOM), a measure of population change, dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and while it has recently spiked, the overall numbers from mid-2020 to mid-2023 were much lower than expected due to a larger drop in arrivals and slower departure rebound.
Myth: Immigration causes unemployment and hurts the economy.
Reality: Migrants often fill labour shortages and contribute positively to the economy, rather than taking jobs from Australian workers.
Myth: Immigration is the primary cause of housing shortages and inflation.
Reality: Housing prices and inflation accelerated in late 2020 when migration was at its lowest in over a century. Other factors like rising construction costs and reduced housing construction were more significant contributors to housing affordability issues.
Myth: Most migrants are refugees or asylum seekers.
Reality: Most migrants move for economic reasons, work, education or lifestyle, with a very small proportion being refugees.
Myth: Immigrants from specific regions, like the Middle East, are a disproportionately large group.
Reality: People often overestimate the numbers from certain regions and underestimate them from others, with the largest countries of birth being England, India, China and New Zealand.
Myth: Immigration threatens Australian culture and social cohesion.
Reality: While integration can present challenges, the perception that immigration fundamentally threatens Australian culture is not supported by evidence and ignores the positive contributions migrants make.
Therefore, despite recent debates fueled by rising anti-immigration sentiment, it is essential to recognize the significant role immigrants have played in shaping Australia’s identity and building its economic prosperity.
Labor for Refugees leaflet We have updated our L4R NSW/ACT leaflet, which can be accessed at L4RNSW-ACTLeafletSep25
Our leaflet summarises some of our policy reforms and achievements, the latest situation in Nauru and Papua New Guinea, an update re the “legacy caseload” refugees who are seeking permanent residency, High Court Rulings on Indefinite Detention and the Deportation Bill and ongoing challenges that we face. The leaflet is a useful hand-out for anyone who wishes to know more about Labor for Refugees and is also thinking of becoming a member.
