Refugee Advocacy in a New Political Landscape: Post-2025 Election Reflections
The 2025 federal election delivered a surprising and decisive victory for the Labor Party, reshaping the political terrain for refugee advocacy in Australia. While many in the refugee rights movement had hoped for a minority Labor government reliant on Greens and TEAL independents—who hold stronger refugee policies—the reality is now a majority Labor government with less external pressure to shift its stance. With no need for Greens or TEAL support, pressure must come from us.
Key points:
- Refugees were barely mentioned during the campaign.
- Liberals’ culture war tactics flopped.
- Greens held strong but lost seats due to preference deals.
- Local allies like Pocock & Price gained ground.
- Global crises—Gaza & Trump—demand urgent action.
Labor now has the power and the responsibility to:
- Grant permanent visas
- Reunite families
- Process claims in Indonesia
- Evacuate Nauru & PNG
Failure to act would not only be a moral failure but a profound act of political cowardice. The RAC urges supporters to continue building pressure and holding the government accountable.
Below you can find the full text of the discussion paper.
