May 6 marks the 20th anniversary of Australia’s policy of mandatory detention.

The number of places available in the Migration Program for 2012–13 is 190 000, which is 5000 more than the 2011–12 planning level. Of the

The Federal Court rules that the comments made by Andrew Bolt in two newspaper articles and online are discriminatory. The complaints were made by a

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), the national umbrella body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them celebrates its 30th anniversary. RCOA’s

The Scanlon Foundation releases the Mapping Social Cohesion Report 2011. The report examines people’s attitudes on a range of topics from social harmony, immigration, asylum seekers,

The High Court of Australia rules that Australia’s transfer arrangement with Malaysia cannot proceed due to the absence of legal protections for refugees and asylum

The Australian Government signs an arrangement with the Malaysian Government to transfer 800 asylum seekers who arrive by boat in Australia to Malaysia, in return

A research report by Dr Graeme Hugo, one of Australia’s leading demographers, is released, highlighting the many economic, civic and social contributions made by refugees

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announces that the Australian Government has delivered on its commitment to move the majority of children in immigration detention

With advice from the Australian Multicultural Affairs Council, the Australian Government announces a new multicultural policy, The People of Australia, which recognises the breadth and diversity

The Manager of Multicultural programs, NSW Department of Education and Training, publishes online the department’s Anti-Racism Policy which commits the department to the elimination of

The Australian Government signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Afghanistan, permitting the involuntary repatriation of failed Afghan asylum-seekers from Australia to Afghanistan,

Responding to community concern expanded community-based detention arrangements (formally known as residence determination) for unaccompanied minors and vulnerable families are announced by the Prime Minister

Ken Wyatt, a Liberal from Hasluck in Western Australia, becomes the first Aboriginal Australian elected to the House of Representatives.