As Australia approaches the issuance of its one millionth permanent visa through the refugee and humanitarian program, advocates are urging the nation to celebrate the significant contributions refugees have made to Australia’s rich tapestry. The milestone, expected to be reached by the end of this year, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s history, reflecting decades of humanitarian commitment since the end of World War II.
Rebecca Eckart, director of policy and research at the Refugee Council of Australia, highlighted the imminent issuance of the millionth permanent humanitarian visa. “That means we’ll have had the benefit of over the past 80 years, people who have come through our refugee and humanitarian program arriving in Australia,” she remarked.
Historical Context of Refugee Arrivals
In the wake of World War II, Australia opened its doors to over 170,000 European refugees. This was a period marked by significant global displacement, and Australia’s response was both compassionate and strategic. The Vietnam War further underscored Australia’s role in providing refuge, with 100,000 Vietnamese settling in the country over a decade.
During the 1980s, the annual intake was expanded to 22,000, and the 1990s saw the introduction of the Special Assistance visa, catering to those affected by conflicts in regions such as former Yugoslavia, East Timor, Lebanon, and Sudan. The focus later shifted to refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, including a special intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees starting in 2015.
Eckart emphasized that this visa milestone is a testament to the diverse individual stories that collectively shape Australian history. “Today, there’s millions of people who are connected to our humanitarian program, either directly or through their parents, grandparents, or great grandparents. It’s a really momentous time,” she said.
Australia’s Approach to Asylum Seekers
Professor Daniel Ghezelbash, director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, sees the milestone as an opportunity to reflect on Australia’s response to global displacement. “I really think it’s a cause for celebration and a moment to mark the transformative contributions that refugees and their families have made to our society and our economy over many, many decades now,” he stated.
However, Ghezelbash also calls for a reassessment of current policies. Australia’s humanitarian program intake comprises two key groups: those applying for protection from outside Australia, who make up more than 850,000 of the visas issued between 1947 and 2023, and those seeking protection after arriving in Australia, accounting for just over 81,000 visas.
“I think our relatively generous resettlement program stands in great contrast to the way we treat asylum seekers. And so I think that’s really the room where the biggest concerns and the biggest criticism of our policies come from,” Ghezelbash noted.
In 2001, Australia implemented a policy of offshore processing for asylum-seekers arriving by boat, with a 2013 amendment preventing these arrivals from ever gaining permanent visas. This policy, while receiving bipartisan support since 2012, has been the subject of widespread international criticism.
“The policy of pushing back asylum seekers at sea has essentially completely shut off access to asylum for people who arrive without authorization, which are actually the people who are generating most need of protection,” Ghezelbash said. “These policies aren’t just unlawful under international law, they’re incredibly harmful for the people that they target.”
Human Stories Behind the Numbers
As Australia prepares to welcome its one millionth refugee on a permanent visa, Ghezelbash emphasizes the need for celebration alongside urgent calls for reform. “I think we need to reflect on the ways we can better balance the legitimate concerns about border security with providing people access to protection at a broader level,” he said.
Tahera Nassrat, who fled Afghanistan over 25 years ago, embodies the resilience and contribution of refugees. Now a tax accountant and business coach in Sydney’s west, Nassrat also founded the Afghan Peace Foundation to support others from refugee backgrounds. She fled due to fears of being targeted by the Taliban for her work with an international organization.
“I was so scared, of course. Because I’m a woman, and it’s against Taliban belief, you as a Muslim woman, you can’t work with foreigners. I had to leave family, friends, country, memories. Everything you believe is yours, you’re forced to leave,” Nassrat shared.
Nassrat advocates for a shift in narrative, urging that those seeking protection should not be viewed as a political problem. “I hear people say ‘Oh you’re a refugee, you’re always a burden to the government’. I’m here, sitting around the same table as you, I’m contributing,” she said.
“Refugees come to a country like Australia, as they do to any other country, with a rich culture, with capability, with responsibility. They want to contribute,” Nassrat concluded.
As Australia stands on the cusp of this significant milestone, the nation faces a dual challenge: to celebrate its humanitarian achievements and to critically assess its policies to ensure they align with both international standards and the country’s values of compassion and inclusion.
