Lexi Webster
Australia has a long history of accepting refugees and asylum seekers, with more than 870,000 refugees resettled since World War II. In 2023-24, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas, with the top countries of birth for overseas migrants being India, China, the UK, and New Zealand. Asylum seekers and refugees in Australia come from various regions, including Vietnam, Indochina, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Myanmar. Australia's refugee policies and public perception have evolved over time, with contentious debates around border control and the safety of those arriving by boat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Refugee and humanitarian visas granted by Australia in 2023-24 | 20,000 |
| Top 5 countries of birth for overseas migrants to Australia in 2023-24 | India, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand |
| Number of migrant departures from Australia in 2023-24 | 221,000 |
| Number of asylum claims in Australia during the 2019-20 financial year | 23,266 |
| Number of asylum claims from outside Australia during the 2019-20 financial year | 70,621 |
| Number of asylum seekers reaching Australia from 1999 to 2001 | 12,000 |
| Number of Kosovo Albanians granted temporary asylum by Australia during the Kosovo War in 1999 | 4,000 |
| Number of refugees from West Papua held in Salasia Camp on Manus Island in the 1960s | Unknown, thousands |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia's protection program offers 20,000 places per year for refugees
- Refugees come to Australia by plane and by boat
- Refugees are often detained in immigration detention centres
- Australia has a history of offshore processing of refugees
- Refugees come from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria
Australia's protection program offers 20,000 places per year for refugees
Australia has a long history of accepting refugees and other humanitarian entrants from all over the world. Since 1945, over 800,000 refugees and other humanitarian entrants have settled in Australia. Australia's protection program offers 20,000 places per year for refugees, available through resettlement from other countries or by granting protection to those who apply for asylum within Australia.
The country's first planned humanitarian program was established by the Fraser Government in 1977 to address refugee and humanitarian issues, including the determination of onshore protection claims. Since then, permanent migrants have entered Australia through either the Migration Program for skilled and family migrants or the Humanitarian Program for refugees.
In 2012-13, the number of refugee entrants increased due to a government decision to increase the Humanitarian Program to 20,000 in that program year. The increase in the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category in 2002-03 was partly due to the cessation of the Special Assistance Category (SAC) in 2001, which was then absorbed into the SHP. The SHP was introduced in 1981 for people who have suffered discrimination or other human rights violations but are not considered refugees under the terms of the Refugees Convention.
Australia has also been known to provide temporary asylum instead of permanent settlement. During the Kosovo War in 1999, the Australian government gave temporary asylum to 4,000 Kosovo Albanians. In 2015-16, the Australian government committed to providing an additional 12,000 places for people displaced by conflict in Syria and Iraq.
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Refugees come to Australia by plane and by boat
Australia has a long history of accepting refugees and asylum seekers, with more than 870,000 refugees resettled since World War II. The country's protection program offers 20,000 places per year, available to people via resettlement from other countries or by granting protection to those who apply for asylum within Australia.
Refugees Come to Australia by Plane
Many refugees and asylum seekers arrive in Australia by plane with valid visas and then claim asylum while in the country. This is a common method of seeking refuge, and those who arrive by plane are generally not subject to mandatory detention. In 2019-20, Australia reported 23,266 asylum claims made within the country.
Refugees Come to Australia by Boat
Australia has also experienced a significant number of refugees and asylum seekers arriving by boat. This method of arrival has been a contentious issue in Australian politics, with concerns raised over border control and the safety of those attempting the journey. Historically, there have been three waves of asylum seekers arriving by boat: Vietnamese between 1976 and 1981, Indochinese asylum seekers from 1989 to 1998, and people of Middle Eastern origin from 1999.
The Australian government has a policy of mandatory detention and offshore processing for asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas. This has led to the use of detention centres, such as the Christmas Island Detention Centre, and regional processing centres in nearby island nations like Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The journey by boat can be dangerous, and Australia has been criticised for not providing durable solutions for those seeking protection upon arrival.
Both methods of arrival, by plane and by boat, reflect the diverse circumstances and motivations of refugees and asylum seekers. Australia's response to these arrivals has evolved over time, with ongoing debates about the best approaches to border control, refugee protection, and resettlement.
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Refugees are often detained in immigration detention centres
Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for those without a valid visa, including asylum seekers. This policy has been a source of controversy, with human rights groups condemning it and even likening Australian immigration detention facilities to concentration camps. The existence of offshore processing centres, such as those on Manus Island and Nauru, has been particularly contentious.
Australian immigration detention centres, or IDCs, are used to detain people who have overstayed their visas, breached their visa conditions, or had their visas cancelled, as well as those refused entry at Australian ports. This includes asylum seekers who arrive by boat without passports, identity papers, or valid entry visas. Under the Migration Act 1958, people arriving in this manner are considered unlawful non-citizens and are subject to mandatory detention.
The Australian government has a history of offshore processing that dates back to the 1960s when Manus Island was set up to take refugees from West Papua. The more recent Pacific Solution, implemented in 2001, saw asylum seekers directed to nearby island nations like Papua New Guinea and Nauru for lengthy processing before being allowed to immigrate to Australia.
The number of people in Australian detention facilities has fluctuated over the years, with a peak of 10,201 in July 2013 and a significant drop to 1,023 as of 30 May 2025. The prolonged detention periods have been criticised for causing harm to individuals, and the policy has been deemed ineffective as a deterrent.
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has expressed deep concern over the findings from the Commonwealth National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) regarding the conditions in immigration detention centres. They have welcomed a proposed bill to limit the detention of asylum seekers to 90 days and prohibit the detention of children.
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Australia has a history of offshore processing of refugees
Australia has a long history of offshore processing of refugees. The country has been sending refugees to other nations for processing since 2001, with a brief hiatus between 2008 and 2012. This policy, known as 'regional processing' by the Australian government, involves intercepting boats carrying asylum seekers and sending them to detention centres in Nauru or Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.
The roots of this policy can be traced back to the 1960s when Indonesia's military takeover of West Papua caused thousands to flee to the then-Australian colony of Papua New Guinea. The Australian government established Salasia Camp on Manus Island to accommodate these refugees from West Papua. While the camp was not a detention centre, and refugees were free to come and go, they remained stateless until they were granted citizenship by Papua New Guinea in 2017.
In more recent times, Australia has continued to use offshore processing as a key component of its asylum policy. The Pacific Solution, implemented in 2001, directed asylum seekers to nearby island nations, particularly Papua New Guinea and Nauru, for lengthy processing before they could immigrate to Australia. This policy aimed to deter refugees from coming to Australia by boat.
The Australian government's approach to offshore processing has been widely criticised by human rights organisations and refugee advocacy groups. It has been described as "abusive" and "costly", with reports of inhumane conditions, abuse, and neglect in the detention centres. The mental health of those in offshore detention has been reported to be significantly worse than those in refugee camps. The high costs of offshore processing, estimated at A$8.3 billion between 2014 and 2020, have also been scrutinised, with critics arguing that the money could be better spent on more humane and effective solutions.
Despite the criticism and human suffering associated with offshore processing, Australia has continued to defend its policy. The government maintains that offshore processing is necessary to manage border control and ensure the safety of those attempting the dangerous journey to Australia by boat.
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Refugees come from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria
Australia has been a destination for refugees from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The country's protection program offers 20,000 places per year for refugees, who can either be resettled from other countries or granted protection upon applying for asylum within Australia. In 2023-24, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas.
Afghans have been migrating to Australia since the 1970s, but the majority have arrived since the mid-1990s due to the rise of the Taliban and the subsequent US invasion of Afghanistan. Afghan refugees face challenges in adjusting to Australia's individualistic culture, with many reporting feelings of social isolation. They also face difficulties due to unemployment, limited English proficiency, and discrimination. The process of gaining protection can be traumatizing, especially for those who arrive by boat and are kept in forced detention during the assessment of their refugee status.
Syrian refugees have also found it challenging to adapt to life in Australia due to cultural and traditional differences. Language barriers and difficulties in finding jobs have been significant issues for this community. Australia had committed to resettling 12,000 Syrian refugees, but as of 2017, only about half had arrived, with the remaining 6,000 expected to arrive within the year.
Iraqis have been seeking refuge in Australia since the 1991 Gulf War, with a large number of refugees arriving between 1992 and 1995. The Iraq-born community in Australia is culturally diverse, including Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds, Turkomans, and Mandaeans. Many Iraqi refugees have entered the country under the Humanitarian Program.
Iranians have become a significant segment of asylum-seeker boat arrivals to Australia in recent years, often utilizing migrant smuggling services. However, changes to Australia's processing for boat arrivals have led to a decrease in the number of Iranians choosing the country as their destination.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some refugees travel to Australia by boat. However, many also arrive by plane with a valid visa and claim asylum while they are in the country.
The top five countries of birth for overseas migrants to Australia in 2023-24 were India, China, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. Historically, Australia has also received refugees from Vietnam, Indochina, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Myanmar.
Australia offers 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas per year. Australia is the only country in the world with a policy of mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without a valid visa. Australia has been criticised for its human rights record on this issue.
