The Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA), together with its member organisations and refugee-led communities, is deeply concerned by reports that the Australian Government is considering changes that could remove work rights, restrict family reunion and reduce access to fair review processes for people seeking asylum, stateless people and other temporary visa holders seeking humanitarian protection in Australia. While the Government is yet to announce the details, these reports have created fear, anxiety and uncertainty among affected refugee communities. RCAA joins refugee-led organisations, charities, advocacy bodies and human rights organisations in calling on the Government to protect the rights, safety and dignity of people seeking protection. Read the joint letter to the Prime Minister here. The right to work allows people to support themselves and their families while contributing to Australia. Refugees have made significant contributions across all areas of Australian life, including business, employment, regional communities, health, education, community services and sporting field. Removing work rights would increase the risk of poverty, homelessness and exploitation, while placing further pressure on charities and community organisations already operating with limited resources. Australia’s protection system faces serious delays. These challenges can be addressed by improving the quality and timeliness of decision-making while ensuring people are treated fairly and with dignity. Access to independent merits review, legal assistance and properly resourced decision-making remains essential, as incorrect decisions can have serious consequences for people seeking protection. In November 2025, the Australian Government granted its one-millionth refugee visa since the post-war humanitarian program began in 1947, marking one million people given safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Australia. Introducing sweeping restrictions now would contradict the legacy of this achievement and could weaken Australia’s international reputation as a compassionate nation, one of the world’s most successful multicultural countries and a global leader in refugee resettlement. RCAA calls on the Australian Government to uphold its commitment to protecting the annual refugee and humanitarian intake of 20,000 places and to ensure the full program is delivered on schedule. Work rights, fair review processes and compassionate family reunion pathways must also be protected for people seeking safety. As part of this call, RCAA is urging the Australian Government to convene an urgent community roundtable with refugee-led and lived-experience organisations before making any changes. With growing anxiety about the current public discussion surrounding refugees and Australia’s humanitarian program, the roundtable would ensure that community knowledge and experience help shape fair, practical and responsive policies. Refugees, people seeking asylum and stateless people should never become targets of political fear and division. They have come to Australia seeking safety after escaping war, conflict and disaster in their home countries. RCAA is an independent, membership-based and refugee-led national peak advocacy organisation. It amplifies the voices of grassroots refugee communities, people seeking asylum and stateless people, and works with governments, service providers and other stakeholders across Australia. Contact RCAA spokesperson for enquiries on 0412 265 317 or email at [email protected]. Supported by the representatives and members of refugee-led, multicultural, multifaith and grassroots community organisations listed below: Parsu Sharma Luital JP, Chairperson, Refugee Communities Association of Australia Abdulla Arifi, President, Victorian Afghan Youth Association Altaf Hussein, President, Hazara Noorband Association Andrew Gai, Co-Founder, South Sudanese Academic Society of Victoria Assumani Kipala, President, Cairns Congolese Association Ava Ebrahimi, Public Officer, Launceston Hazara Association Cr John Haddad, President, Beth Narain Assyrian Association Dr Berhan Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Africause Dr Mohamed Mohideen OAM JP, President, Islamic Council of Victoria Elijah Buol OAM, Former Refugee and Chair, Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland Farah Warsame, President, Somali Community Inc. Victoria Geeta Gurung, Chairperson, Mountain Mothers Foundation Hanisha Sharma-Luital, Chairperson, Help Himalayan Youth Foundation (HHYF) Jacob Thang, Founder & Chairperson, Chin-Myanmar Community Care Kamal Dahal, President, Adelaide Dragon Sporting Club Khaing Moe Oo, President, Arakanese Association of Australia, Cairns Mabor Chadhuol, Founder, Director, and Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Migrant and Refugee Health Mae Sie Win, Treasurer, The Karenni Federation of Australia Mariella Teuira, ITIKI Sporting Club of Glenroy Meelan Rana, Chairperson, Himalayan Organisation for Multicultural Communities Michael Foldi, Director, Auschin Foundation Ltd Padam Magar, President, Bhutanese Magar Samaj of Cairns Philip Lahpai, President, Kachin Association Victoria Robert Lingtun, General Secretary, Burmese Welfare Association of Australia Subash Chetri, President, GOPIO Cairns (Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin) Tejman Monger, President, Cairns Bhutanese Community Thaw Zin Htun, President, Victoria Arakanese Association (VAA) Tun Maung, President, Mahamuni Buddhist Society of Cairns Venerable Moonieinda Ashin, Director & Chairperson, Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation, Bendigo Yasseen Musa, Chairperson, Eritrean Jeberti Community in Australia Yusuf Liban, Director, Multicultural Youth Group Halimah Valiyff, Public Officer, Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association

The Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) expresses deep concern about the framing of migrants and refugees in the Budget Reply delivered by the Leader of the Opposition, Angus Taylor MP, particularly in relation to Australia’s housing challenges. RCAA acknowledges that housing affordability and housing supply are urgent national issues affecting millions of Australians. However, attributing these pressures to migrants and refugees’ risks inflaming division, creating unnecessary fear, and undermining the enormous economic, social, and cultural contributions these communities continue to make to Australia over decades. “Housing shortages result from long-term structural policy failures, underinvestment, and planning challenges, rather than from the presence of individuals who have come to Australia seeking safety, rebuilding their lives, and contributing their skills, labour, and entrepreneurship,” the RCAA spokesperson said. “We urge political leaders to focus on evidence-based solutions rather than rhetoric that unfairly targets vulnerable communities.” Refugees and humanitarian entrants represent only a small proportion of Australia’s overall migration intake, yet research consistently demonstrates that they contribute positively to regional economies, workforce participation, innovation, small business growth, and long-term nation building. Across Australia, refugee led organisations actively support housing transitions, employment pathways, community integration, and social cohesion, often with very limited resources. RCAA calls for a constructive and solutions-focused national conversation that includes: Investment in social and affordable housing- expanding housing supply for all low-income households, including newly arrived communities. Stronger support for refugee settlement services- ensuring people rebuilding their lives have stable housing, employment pathways, and community support. Evidence based migration policy- recognising the long term economic, demographic, and workforce benefits of migration rather than framing it as a burden and misguiding Australians. National leadership on social cohesion- political discourse that strengthens unity, fairness, and inclusion rather than division. RCAA chair, Parsu Sharma Luital said, “In November 2025, Australia granted its one millionth refugee visa since the arrival of refugees after 1947. This is not just a statistic, it is a proud national milestone that Australia should celebrate. Refugees and migrants have helped build modern Australia through hard work, resilience, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. As even Angus Taylor MP acknowledged, migrants and refugees have always contributed to Australia.” “Refugees and migrants are not the cause of Australia’s housing crisis, but they can absolutely be part of the solution when supported through fair, humane, and forward-looking policies.” We call on all political leaders to engage responsibly and avoid narratives that stigmatise communities who have already endured hardship, displacement, and trauma,’ said Mr Luital. RCAA stands ready to work with all sides of politics to ensure Australia’s housing strategy is inclusive, future focused, evidence driven, and grounded in respect for human dignity, fairness, and Australia’s proud multicultural values. RCAA is a membership based, independent refugee-led national peak advocacy organisation that works closely with people with lived experience to amplify the voices of grassroots refugee communities and people seeking asylum. RCAA also works collaboratively with government agencies at all levels, peak bodies, settlement services, and stakeholders across states and territories to strengthen consultation, partnership, and support for refugees and people seeking asylum. For media enquiries, please contact RCAA spokesperson at [email protected]

An impressive line-up of leading international and Australian refugee advocates will headline this year’s second Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) National Conference. Iranian Kurdish journalist, human rights defender and writer Behrouz Boochani and former UNHCR Assistant Commissioner and former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Dr Gilian Triggs are among the keynote speakers at the conference held at the Adelaide Festival Centre on March 25 and 26. Mr Boochani was held in the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea between 2013 and its closure in 2017. He now lives in New Zealand where he is a research fellow at the University of Canterbury. Also speaking at the conference will be the Co-Executive Director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network Noor Azizah, Co-Secretary General Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Hafsar Tameesuddin, Chief Executive Officer, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth Carmel Guerra OAM and Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation Hass Dellal AO. The conference will focus on facilitating conversations, sharing knowledge, and increasing awareness of the lived experiences of new and emerging communities, migrants, and multicultural communities as well as highlighting their contributions to Australia. Under the theme “Empowering Refugees and Multicultural Communities Together”, the conference will explore how refugee communities move beyond initial settlement to multicultural leadership, ensuring their voices actively influence policies, services, and decision-making at all levels. The long-term goal of RCAA is to establish a framework fostering a self-reliant, progressive, and culturally inclusive approach, strengthening refugee leadership through policy, advocacy, support, capacity building, and working with all stakeholders. The conference is expected to bring together more than 250 delegates, representing more than 50 organisations. Attendees will include new and emerging communities, multicultural communities, refugee organisations, service providers, policymakers, academics, businesses, and representatives from all levels of government. The conference will serve as a platform for meaningful engagement, collaboration, and innovation in multicultural leadership and integration. The conference will provide an opportunity to: Advance multicultural leadership and amplify their voices within Australian society Promote awareness of the contributions of refugee communities to the social and economic wellbeing, and rich cultural fabric of Australia Foster dialogue that encourages the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and solutions between new and emerging communities, service providers, and policymakers Strengthen the advocacy capacity of ‘lived experience’ led organisations and build a stronger, more cohesive network  Develop a foundation of lived experience and evidence-based insights to shape policy and service delivery RCAA Chair Parsu Sharma Luital said the conference would also feature case studies of successful multicultural sector led initiatives and examine how their approaches can be adapted and implemented by other agencies to enhance their leadership and support systems. “It will also celebrate the role of lived experience in shaping service provision, employment pathways, and community programs and explore opportunities for partnerships between new and emerging communities, service providers, businesses, and government agencies,” Mr Sharma Luital said. A conference dinner will honour the rich cultural diversity of South Australia and celebrate the contributions of multicultural communities from across Australia. Bringing together delegates, community leaders, and stakeholders, the dinner will be a night of connection, recognition, and cultural appreciation, reflecting the strength and resilience of our diverse communities.Conference website and registration link: https://rcaaconference2026.com.au/registration/ About RCAAThe RCAA is Australia’s first membership-based, refugee-led organisation (RLO), distinguished by its strong grassroots foundation and extensive reach with refugee communities and key stakeholders. RCAA unites over 70 member organisations nationwide and thousands of individuals, each embodying the resilience, strength, and rich diversity of refugee communities. Together, RCAA forms a collective force that amplifies diverse voices, advocates for systemic change, and strengthens the already rich fabric of Australia’s multiculturalism. With leadership drawn directly from those with lived experience, RCAA ensures that policies and programs impacting these communities are shaped by those with lived experience. For images, interviews and more information please contact Laurie Nowell at [email protected] or 9938 4031 or 0498 196 500.