Tag Archives: Asylum seekers

“In-donor refugee costs”: breaking down Australia’s latest aid ‘cut’

Posted in: Aid Effectiveness, Foreign Aid, Migration | December 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm , by Brendan Rigby

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Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, announced that $375 million in foreign aid will be re-allocated to cover the expenditure of refugees in Australia. This announcement has been met with outrage and derision. In this post, Brendan breaks down what it actually means and why such practices need to change....

Climate Change and migration: what we need to be doing right now

Posted in: Environment, Ethics in development, Human Rights, Humanitarian Relief & Post-Conflict, Migration | August 20, 2012 at 5:28 pm , by Erin Nash

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Climate Change is happening, but we do not seem to realise it. The socio-economic impacts of Climate Change are enormous and the implications for human well-being are frightening. Erin Nash tackles the tricky landscape of Climate Change and migration, unpacking the concept of 'climate refugees'. Who are they? Where will...

As long as the razor wire exists: Voices of refugees

Posted in: Migration | January 18, 2012 at 10:00 pm , by Susannah Waters

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Increasing rates of self-harm and a string of suicides reveal a troubling picture of Australian immigration detention centres. Deteriorating conditions are taking their toll on asylum seekers, yet the Australian government is persisting with its policy of mandatory detention. Susannah Waters speaks to some people at the heart of the...

Offshore processing is dead, courtesy of politics, not conscience.

Posted in: Migration | October 14, 2011 at 11:44 pm , by Weh Yeoh

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Offshore processing of asylum seekers is dead. For now. But does this indicate a new era of clean conscience for our government? A born-again Machine Gun Preacher-like about face towards a more humane approach to those who need our help? Will it mean that Labor will start representing those on...

When I move you move: it’s the conflict, stupid.

Posted in: Migration | October 5, 2011 at 8:13 pm , by Brendan Rigby

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The other week, Triple J's Hack featured a IV-part series looking at the decade since 9/11. One of the interviewees, an academic from ANU, spoke of how 9/11 and the subsequent conflicts have been a catalyst for increased migration. In particular, of forced migration; or in Australian terms, 'why people...

Who wants to be a refugee?

Posted in: Migration | September 3, 2011 at 12:21 am , by Brendan Rigby

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A new game show broadcast in the Netherlands pits asylum seekers who have failed to prove their claim to asylum and are awaiting deportation, against each other, in a bid to prove who can be the most patriotic. Awareness raising, or just simple titillation? Brendan explores the answer to this...

The Australian Government goes viral on refugees

Posted in: Migration | August 3, 2011 at 9:19 am , by Brendan Rigby

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The Australian Immigration Department announced that it will film the first group of asylum seekers processed under the new deal with Malaysia and post the video on YouTube. This decision by the Australian Federal Government to use YouTube to communicate immigration policy is disturbing. Not only are their serious ethical...

Our favourite whydev posts

Posted in: General | July 28, 2011 at 11:27 pm , by Weh Yeoh

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There's no better way to celebrate our most significant of anniversaries, than to reflect on what has been a great 14 months and 2 weeks of contributions to whydev. In this post, Weh and Brendan choose their top posts since whydev's inception. Something we've missed? Something that doesn't belong there?...

SBS accused of preaching to the choir…but is the choir listening?

Posted in: Migration | June 30, 2011 at 3:28 pm , by Weh Yeoh

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The SBS mini-series, Go Back To Where You Came From, just finished to record ratings and critical reviews. Weh reflects on the journey of the show's six participants and their changed and unchanged attitudes. When the show was first pitched, his expectations of its impact were low. Like many others,...

Go Back To Where You Came From: Superb, uncomfortable & influential (?) viewing

Posted in: Migration | June 22, 2011 at 1:21 pm , by Guest Author/s

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Last night, SBS Australia aired the first episode of groundbreaking new show, Go Back To Where You Came From. In this post, Sarah Forsterling outlines her reaction to the show, and wonders whether it will have any impact on the wider debate about asylum seekers worldwide....

whylinks

Posted in: Links | June 17, 2011 at 1:20 pm , by Brendan Rigby

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A list of favourite links for the week to get you through the weekend....

Guess Who? The political guessing game continues

Posted in: Migration, Politics | June 9, 2011 at 11:22 am , by Weh Yeoh

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Repetition works. Repetition works. Repetition works. Recently, the Australian public have been under a constant barrage of repetition from both the Australian Labor and Liberal parties on asylum seekers and refugees. As the two main political parties float further to the right, Weh suggests that the repetition is working and...

Go back to where you came from!

Posted in: Migration | June 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm , by Brendan Rigby

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For about three decades, between 1976 and the mid-1990s, Australia accepted over 150,000 refugees from much of SE Asia and China. Today, many Australians seemingly baulk at the idea of 50 people appearing on the coastline seeking asylum. What changed? What are Australians' attitudes towards refugees and is this reflected...

Breaking: Australia accepts refugee swap deal with North Korea

Posted in: Humour | May 27, 2011 at 6:11 pm , by Weh Yeoh

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Following successful negotiations with Malaysia, Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced a new deal to exchange asylum seekers travelling to Australia with refugees currently living in North Korea. Weh Yeoh reports on the latest details of this deal, which includes support from Australia's Opposition Party and a surprise package...

The blind leading the blind

Posted in: Migration | May 26, 2011 at 1:22 pm , by Hannah Withers

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In this post, Hannah explores the Australian government’s controversial new refugee transfer policy with Malaysia from the perspective of international human rights law and regional influence. What is the real cost of this policy on the international human rights framework? She argues that by shirking its responsibilities under international law...