Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is actively involved in international talks to develop the two Global Compacts, one for refugees and one on migration. As the Department's Head of Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division, Jamie Isbister is leading DFAT’s work toward the Global Compacts, advocating for Australia’s perspectives on better addressing refugee and displacement crises. He talks about the process and possible outcomes.

How has Australia moved from a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers – and is there a way back?

How is public opinion influenced by the actions and attitudes of politicians and the media?

What impact can international law and the legal profession have?

On 2 November, UNSW Law Alumni’s Look who’s talking series presented a fascinating discussion with:

Historian and Asylum By Boat author Dr Claire Higgins;

Guardian Australia journalist Ben Doherty;

Scholar, barrister and Kaldor Centre Acting Director Prof. Guy S Goodwin-Gill; and

Wotton + Kearney Partner Heidi Nash-Smith

Moderator: Dean of UNSW Law Professor George Williams AO

As leaders around the world balance populist pressure against an unprecedented number of refugees, our panel takes a closer look at the history of Australia’s asylum policy, and how it has been shaped by governments, law, and ever-changing public opinion.

Our panel of experts explored what is needed for Australia to return to a humanitarian approach, and what impact the legal profession can have on improving policy and protecting the rights of asylum seekers.

171014.0820: Origins of Australia's refugee policy by UNSW Kaldor Centre

A government under intense pressure from unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers arriving by boat, its radical policy attracting global attention; this might sound like contemporary Australia.

It is in fact the Australian government of 40 years ago, facing the wave of boat people from Vietnam.

Senior research associate at the Kaldor Centre, Dr Claire Higgins, speaks to The World Today about her book 'Asylum By Boat: the Origins of Australia's Refugee Policy'.

Kaldor Centre's Senior Research Associate Madeline Gleeson speaks with Clare Wright from ABC Radio National

5 Questions on safe zones with Professor Geoff Gilbert by UNSW Kaldor Centre

11 April 2017, the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law hosted a seminar by David FitzGerald of the University of California, San Diego entitled 'Remote Control of Asylum Seekers: The US Experience'.

More information available: http://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/event/remote-control-asylum-seekers-us-experience-0

Hosted by the Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW and Macquarie University

The movement of asylum seekers and migrants by boat has seized attention across the world. In Australia and elsewhere, governments have enacted policies to intercept and turn back asylum seekers at sea. What do we know (and not know) about these policies, and what are the legal and practical implications of turning back boats? This panel will discuss the law, policy and practice of turning back boats in Europe, the United States and Australia.

Speakers:

Dr Daniel Ghezelbash, Macquarie Law School

Rear Admiral James Goldrick AO, CSC RAN (Retired)

Dr Violeta Moreno-Lax, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Frances Voon, Executive Manager, Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW

The event was chaired by Professor Natalie Klein, Dean, Macquarie Law School.

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law Conference 2016

FROM REFUGEE EMERGENCY TO PROTRACTED EXILE: THE ROLE OF 'TIME' IN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

18 November 2016

Closing keynote address

Professor François Crépeau, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants

Chaired by Andrew Kaldor AM, Founder, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW

For more: https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au%2Fevent%2Fsave-date-annual-conference

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law Conference 2016

FROM REFUGEE EMERGENCY TO PROTRACTED EXILE: THE ROLE OF 'TIME' IN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

18 November 2016

Panel 3 - How do law and policy shape refugees' experience of time?

Sarah Dale, Principal Solicitor, Refugee Advice & Casework Service

Professor Ben Saul, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

Shukufa Tahiri, Policy Assistant, Refugee Council of Australia

Chaired by Professor Jane McAdam, Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSWRefugee Research, UNSW

For more: http://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/event/save-date-annual-conference