The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

Immigrant Health Service

Refugee policy and timeline

Background

Older

Early 20th Century - small numbers of Russian, Greek, Armenian, Assyrian and Polish Jewish arrivals.
1938 - Australia's first formal agreement to resettle refugees - for 15,000 Jewish refugees from Europe; more than 5000 refugees arrived in 1939.
1940 - Immigration Act (1940) Cth
1945 - Department of Immigration (DI) established (13 Jul 1945) with Arthur Calwell as the first Minister for Immigration.
1946 - Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act (1946) C^th.
1947 - formal resettlement programs commence.
1947-1954 - 170,000 Eastern Europeans displaced during World War II arrived - under a signed agreement with the International Refugee Organization, with an initial quota of 12,000 people per year planned.
1948 - Nationality and Citizenship Act (1948) C^th- creating the status of Australian citizen (prior to this, Australians were British subjects).
1948 - the Department of Immigration assumes control of the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP), and established the Migrant Workers Accomodation Division to administer migrant hostels, providing accomodation for up to 12 months after arrival.
1949 - first Australian citizenship ceremony (3 Feb 1949).
1950s - Good Neighbour Councils operating across all jurisdictions, helping new migrants with settlement. The program formally ceased in 1979, although branches still operate in South Australia and Launceston.
1951 - Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees - ratified by Australia in 1954.
1954 - Australia ratifies the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
1956-1957 - more than 14,000 Hungarian refugees arrive in Australia.
1958 - Migration Act (1958) - coming into effect 1 Jan 1959 (replacing the Immigration Act), also abolishing the dictation test and changing entry processes.
1967 - Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees - ratified by Australia in 1973.
1968 - Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG) first utilised as a refugee processing centre by Australia (at this time both Papua and New Guinea were under Australian colonial rule) - with 'permissive residence' visas provided for a small number of West Papuans (West Irians) - see summary.
1968-1969 - more than 6000 Czechoslovakian refugees arrive in Australia after the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union.

1970s

In the 1970s, significant humanitarian source countries for Australia were: Chile, Lebanon, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. There were more than 16,000 people from Central and South America in the early 1970s, and around 18,000 arrivals from Lebanon from 1975.

1972 - White Australia policy ends (Whitlam Government).
1972 - Commonwealth (C^th) delegated Guardianship of unattached refugee minors to State Welfare authorities.
1973 - Australia ratifies the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
1973 - Changes to citizenship criteria allowing all migrants to apply for citizenship after 3 years of residence.
1973 - The Department of Immigration establishes a Settlement Services Branch.
1973 - First amnesty to legalise migration status (Whitlam government) - 'Dispensation programme'.
1974 - Department of Immigration briefly disbanded - with visa functions assumed by the Department of Labour - becoming the Department of Labour and Immigration (DLI).
1975 - Medical screening clinic for refugees commenced at Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital.
1975 - Department of Immigration reformed by the incoming Fraser Government, becoming the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (DIEA).
1975 - Telephone Interpreting Services (TIS) established by the reformed Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
1976 - First Migrant resource centre opened in Victoria (other references note the first 2 Multicultural resource centres opened in 1977).
1976 - Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (VIDC) opens in Sydney.
1976 - First annual review of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs - later (1989) becoming the annual report.
1976 - Second amnesty to legalise migration status (Fraser government) - 'Dispensation programme'.
1976 - First boat of 5 Vietnamese asylum seekers arrives in Australia - over 1976-1981, 56 boats carrying more than 2000 Vietnamese asylum seekers arrived in Australia.
1977 - Humanitarian program commenced (Fraser Government).
1978 - Galbally report - Report of the Review of Post Arrival Programs and Services for Migrants. (Fraser Government).
1979 - Australian Refugee Advisory Committee formed - and recommended creation of the Community Refugee Settlement Scheme, matching refugee entrants with communities, and supporting them with community volunteers. Migrant hostels were established as service hubs for refugee entrants, and the Migrant Projects Subsidy Scheme was established.
1979 - Points system introduced for other aspects of the Australian migration programme.

1980s
In the 1980's, significant humanitarian source areas for Australia were: Indochina, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

1980 - Migration Act amended to allow Minister to grant an entry permit (repealed 1989).
1980 - Third amnesty - Regularisation of Status Program.
1981 - Special Humanitarian program (SHP) commenced (Fraser Government).
1983 - Australian State Governments formed a Working Party on Refugee Children.
1985 - C^th and State Governments formed an agreement - establishing specific funding for Refugee Minor Programs.
1986 - Australian Health Ministers accepted a recommendation to consider standards for refugee health screening and the formation of a nationally coordinated data system.
1987 - Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs becomes the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (DILGEA).
1988-1989 - Migration Programme divided into 3 streams - Family, Skilled and Humanitarian.
1989 - Migration Legislation Amendment Act (1989) defining the need for valid entry permits, allowing the Minister to exempt people from holding an entry permit, and allowing discretionary detention of anyone considered to be an 'illegal entrant' (Hawke Government).
1989 - Annual reports for the Department of Immigration (at this time DILGEA) commence.
1989 - 'Women at risk' refugee visa category introduced (Hawke Government).
Late 1980s - Emergency rescue visa category introduced (Hawke Government).
1989 - Australia joins the Comprehensive Plan of Action.

1990s

In the 1990's, significant humanitarian source countries for Australia were: China, Burma, Cambodia, countries of the former Yugoslavia (Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo), Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. More than 19,000 Indochinese refugees were resettled in Australia under the Comprehensive Plan of Action between 1989-1996.

1990 - Introduction of Temporary Entry Permits within the Refugee and Humanitarian categories (four years protection with facility to apply for permanent protection after this time) in the context of a large number of applicants for asylum after Tiananmen Square (ceases 1993).
1990 - New system for determining refugee status claims and Humanitarian stay - three tier process - primary stage for assessment and rapid decision, a review stage for negative assessments, and a process for Ministerial review.
1991 - Special Assistance Category (SAC) introduced - assistance for people with close links to Australia who did not meet requirements of the Humanitarian or SHP programs. Initially used for East Timorese, Soviet minorities, citizens of former Yugoslavia, Burmese, Sri Lankan, and others. Overall there were 10 SAC, but the SAC ended by the early 2000s.
1992 - Amendments to the Migration Act for mandatory immigration detention, with a 273 day limit on the period of detention (Keating Government).
1992 - Immigration Education Act (1971) amended allowing newly arrived migrants with less than 'functional English' - 510 hours of English tuition.
1992 - Jul - Asylum Seekers Assistance Scheme (ASAS) starts, later becoming part of Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) in 2014.
1992 - Fairfield Migration Screening Clinic closes.
1993 - Humanitarian Program separated from the Migration Program (Keating Government).
1993 - Temporary Entry Permit system ends.
1993 - Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs becomes the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (DIEA) (again).
1994 - Additional legislative amendments widening the application of mandatory detention to all persons arriving without a visa, or those in Australia on an expired or cancelled visa and removal of the 273 day limit, and provisions that ‘unlawful non citizens’ can only be released from detention on granting visa, or on removal or deportation from Australia, introduction of bridging visas.
1994 - Migration Regulations (1994)
1996 - Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs becomes the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).
1996 - Offshore and onshore components of the Humanitarian programs linked, and introduction of quotas for offshore places (Howard Government).
1996 - 2003 - Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs - Philip Ruddock.
1999 - Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) reintroduced (Howard Government).
Different settlement support entitlements to Permanent Protection Visa (PPV) holders.
No provision for family sponsorship.
No provision for re-entry after departing Australia.
1999 - Safe Haven visas (subclass 449) introduced to allow for entry and temporary stay in Australia in humanitarian crisis situations. These visas were initially used for people from Timor and Kosovo, they are used by invitation (people could not apply for these visas) - see relevant Bill on Migration Legislation Amendment and notes in Migration Act.

2000s
In the 2000s, significant humanitarian source countries for Australia were: Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Burma, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.

2000 - Temporary Humanitarian Concern visas (subclass 786) introduced (see relevant amendments to the Migration Act). This visa was introduced to allow Safe Haven visa (449) holders in need of ongoing medical attention to remain in Australia.
2001 - Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) becomes the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).
2001 - (Aug) – Tampa crisis.
2001 - Pacific solution (Howard Government).
Designation of Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as ‘excised offshore places’ (see Migration Amendment (Excision from Migration Zone) Act 2001).
People arriving via excised territories unable to make a protection visa application.
Provisions for those people intercepted at sea or arriving on an excised territory to be transferred to third countries for processing of their protection claims.
Offshore processing commences on Nauru, Manus Island and Christmas Island.
2003 - 2007 - Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs - Amanda Vanstone (replacing Philip Ruddock).
2004 - Inquiry into Ministerial Discretion into Migration Matters.
2005 - Migration Amendment (Detention Arrangements) Act 2005 - community detention - children, families and people with special needs can be placed in detention in the community.
2005 - Palmer Report - Inquiry into the circumstances of the immigration detention of Cornelia Rau .
2005 - Comrie Inquiry (C^th Ombudsman) - Inquiry into the circumstances of the Vivian Alvarez matter.
2005 - Community detention introduced - amendments to the Migration Act to allow the Minister for Immigration to make a residence determination for a person in immigration detention.
2005 - Community Care Pilot established - later named the ‘Community Assistance Support’ or CAS program, then becoming part of SRSS in 2014.
2006 - Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) changes back into the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).
2006 - Senate Inquiry into the Administration and Operation of the Migration Act - notes shift from criminal cancellations under s201 to s501 (character grounds).
2006 - C^th Ombudsman (own motion) Inquiry into the Administration of the s501 of the Migration Act (1958) as it applied to long term residents.
2007 - Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) becomes the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
2007 - 2010 - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship - Chris Evans, replacing Amanda Vanstone.
2007 - Offshore processing ceased (Rudd Government).
2008 - Feb - the last asylum seekers on Nauru resettled in Australia - over 2001-08 - 1637 people detained in the Nauru and Manus facilities, 1153 (70%) found to be refugees, 61% resettled in Australia, others resettled in United States, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand.
2008 - Temporary protection visa system ends (Rudd Government).

2010

Since 2010, significant humanitarian and asylum seeker source countries for Australia have been: Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Iraq, and Sri Lanka.
Jun 2010 - Joint Standing Committee on Migration report Enabling Australia: Inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability.
24 Jun 2010 - Julia Gillard replaces Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister (PM)
Sep 2010 - 2013 - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship - Chris Bowen, replacing Chris Evans.
Oct 2010 - Transfer of minors and families from immigration detention into community-based detention.
Nov 2010 - High Court decision allowing asylum seekers access to Australian courts for judicial review, regardless of place or means of arrival.
2011

May 2011 - Australian Government announced the Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Transfer and Resettlement, where 800 boat arrival asylum seekers were to be removed to Malaysia and Australia agreed to accept 4000 UNHCR recognised refugees living in Malaysia.
Aug 2011 - High Court decision prevented removal of asylum seekers to Malaysia. Minister's declaration of Malaysia as a suitable country for processing AS found to be invalid, also found unaccompanied minors cannot lawfully be taken from Australia without written consent of Minister under IGOC (1946).
Nov 2011 - Increasing numbers of people (not just family groups) placed in community detention or on bridging visas after initial health, security, and identity checks in immigration detention (media release).

2012

Mar 2012 - Findings of the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network released.
Single protection visa process implemented – ensuring all claims for protection are now assessed according to the refugee status determination process established by the Migration Act, regardless of the place or mode of arrival of the person lodging the claim.
May 2012 - Chris Bowen (then Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) announced streamlining the health waiver provisions for offshore Humanitarian entrants in response to the 2010 report: Enabling Australia: Inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability.
Jul 2012 - changes to health waiver process for offshore Humanitarian entrants (original documentation not available @Dec 2020, also see FOI figures for health waivers in Humanitarian entrants 2011-2016).
Aug 2012 - release of the Expert Panel Report see summary recommendations and full report.
Sep 2012 - Changes to family sponsorship.
Irregular maritime arrivals (IMA) arriving after Aug 2013 not able to sponsor family members on Humanitarian visas. If granted status, able to sponsor family members on Family stream visas (usual costs apply) – as of 28 Sep 2012 (original media releases no longer available).
An increase in family stream visas - additional 4000 places per year.
IMA who arrived prior to 13 Aug 2012 – minors still able to sponsor family members on Humanitarian visas, although given lower priority than applicants sponsored by prior offshore Humanitarian arrivals, adults able to sponsor family members, but assessed against all criteria of 202 visa, and given lower priority than applicants sponsored by a minor.
Increased Humanitarian intake (from 13,750 to 20,000 people - later reduced to 13,750 by incoming Abbott Government in Sep 2013, reaching 18,750 people by 2018-19, then reducing to 13,750 again under the Morrison Government in Oct 2020).
No advantage principle – people arriving as IMA will not have their claims processed more quickly than people claiming refugee status offshore (time for claim processing not stated - note the media releases for this are no longer available as of Dec 2020).
Reopening of offshore processing (and media report) after changes to the Migration Act, and the Immigration Guardianship of Children Act.
Proposed changes to Australia’s migration zone, subsequent changes to Migration Act – new definition of unauthorised maritime arrival (person arriving by sea (not plane) regardless of arrival at excised offshore place or mainland).
14 Sep 2012 - First transfers of asylum seekers to Nauru offshore processing centre (Gillard Government) - Transfield (subsequently called Broadspectrum) providing garrison, IHMS providing healthcare, the Salvation Army providing welfare.
Oct 2012 - Margaret Stone appointed as Independent reviewer of Adverse Security Assessments.
Nov 2012 - Lack of work rights for bridging visa holders (see: Chris Bowen: ‘No advantage onshore for boat arrivals’, (Media Release, 21 Nov 2012). See Human Rights Commission commentary.
21 Nov 2012 - First transfers of asylum seekers to Manus Island offshore processing centre.

2013

Jan 2013 - Bridging visa E (BVE) holders granted Medicare access (Medicare for this cohort then expired 2 years later on 31 Dec 2014, and again 31 Dec 2017, 31 Dec 2020, ?and 31 Dec 2023).
Jan-Jul 2013- Increasing numbers of IMA - resulting in increasing numbers of people held in Immigration detention, and increasing release to immigration transit accommodation (on mainland), community detention (on mainland), and release of IMA on BVE into the community.
Feb 2013 - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship - Brendan O'Connor, replacing Chris Bowen (until Jun 2013).
11 Feb 2013 - ANAO Audit: Individual management services provided to people in immigration detention.
23 Mar 2013 - Immicard introduced - see 2012-13 DIAC annual report.
27 Mar 2013 - Maritime Powers Act (Cth) allowing administration/enforcement of Australian law in maritime areas - later formed the basis for detention at sea.
1 Jun 2013 - Community Proposal Pilot commences, allowing communities to sponsor individuals through the Offshore Humanitarian Programme - initially 500 places - see 2012-13 DIAC annual report.
Jun 2013 - Parliamentary Library Report: Health care for asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island.
Jun 2013 - Changes to Indonesian visa access for people arriving from Iran (previously $25 for 30 days visa that could be arranged after arrival in Indonesia) - the effects of this change were likely substantial, but not well reported.
27 Jun 2013 - Kevin Rudd replaces Julia Gillard as PM
1 Jul 2013 - Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship - Tony Burke, replacing Brendan O'Connor.
19 Jul 2013- PNG solution announced (media release) and riots in Nauru regional processing centre (see media reporting) and the subsequent review (2013 Hamburger report).
25 Jul 2013 - Change of terminology from 'Irregular Maritime Arrival (IMA)' to 'Unauthorised Maritime Arrival' (UMA).
3 Aug 2013 - Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and Nauru signed, allowing transfer of UMAs to Nauru, and settlement of transferred UMAs in Nauru should they be found in need of protection, with costs to be born by Australia.
6 Aug 2013- Memorandum of understanding between Australia and PNG signed.
30 Aug 2013 - Changes in entitlement to Humanitarian Settlement Support - UMAs who have lived in the community on Bridging Visa E (BVE) or in community detention will no longer be eligible for Humanitarian Settlement Support. Unaccompanied Minors arriving as UMAs and most people granted a protection visa while in immigration detention will remain eligible. These changes were announced in the Economic impact statement on 2 Aug 2013.
Sep 2013 - (change to Liberal government under PM Tony Abbott).
Policy statements (pre-election) (see media reporting and the Australian Human Rights Commission).
Reduce the Humanitarian program intake to 13,750 places/year with 11,000 places reserved for offshore applicants and 1000 places for the most vulnerable refugees, in particular, woman at risk of violence.
Reintroduce temporary protection visas (see subsequent media coverage).
‘Turn back’ the boats where safe to do so.
Priority given to offshore special humanitarian visa applicants for processing and obtaining permanent residency over onshore arrivals claiming asylum.
Establish presumption against refugee status for people arriving on boats without identity papers.
Restoration of the single case officer appeal process.
Regional deterrence framework.
Planned audit of the refugee assessment process with the aim of removing access to the Refugee Review Tribunal and returning to single case officer review.
Establish specialist country based assessment cells within the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Establishment of a fast track assessment and removal process based on the UK ' Detained Fast Track System'.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) renamed Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection - Scott Morrison ( additional information, media releases and transcripts).
Settlement services moved from the Immigration portfolio (see Refugee Council of Australia summary).
Settlement services moved to the new Social services portfolio - later moves back to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) after the May 2019 re-election of the Morrison government.
Adult Migrant English Program moved to the Employment portfolio -  later moves back to the DHA after the May 2019 election as above.
Operation Sovereign Borders commences (also see quick summary - SBS news).
Oct 2013
Rapid transfer (within 48 hrs) to offshore processing centres (see announcement and media reports from The Australian and SBS news).
Change in terminology to ' illegal maritime arrivals' - (previously 'unauthorised maritime arrivals', see associated media fact check and comment from the Guardian).
18 Oct 2013 - Migration Amendment (Temporary Protection Visas) Regulation 2013 reintroducing temporary protection visas (subclass 785) as the only protection visa available to people in Australia who are Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals (as described in the Migration Act) or who arrived in Australia without a visa or immigration clearance, or who are family members of someone holding a subclass 785 visa. The regulation prevents people in this cohort applying for, or being granted a protection visa that allows them to stay in Australia indefinitely (and includes existing applications). See Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) fact sheet on TPVs.
Nov 2013 - Doctors on Christmas Island write a letter of concern about conditions and medical care.
26 Nov 2013 - Release of UNHCR reports on conditions for asylum seekers in Manus Island and Nauru after site visits Oct 2013.
2 Dec 2013 - Senate disallows regulation for reintroduction of Temporary Protection Visas - see Hansard (additional links under 'Regulations and determinations - Disallowance).
3 Dec 2013 - Minister for Immigration caps the number of permanent protection visas for the 2013-14 year (meaning no new visas will be granted until Jul 2014).
Dec 2013 - Delays in re-issue of bridging visas noted by settlement and other agencies - (meaning loss of Medicare, and in some cases work rights).
11 Dec 2013 - Release of Amnesty International Report - 'This is Breaking People: Human Rights Violations at Australia’s Asylum Seeker Processing Centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea'.
13 Dec 2013 - Immigration Health Advisory Group ceased - to be replaced by a single medical advisor - Dr Paul Alexander AO.
13 Dec 2013 - Announcement that Salvation Army contracts in Manus Island and Nauru will not be renewed - see The Age.
16 Dec 2013 - Code of conduct for asylum seekers - see The Guardian.
19 Dec 2013 - Cap on protection visas revoked and the Guardian reports on the letter by doctors on Christmas Island.

2014

Jan 2014 - Processing of Bridging visa E restarts.
14 Jan 2014 - Announcement that four mainland detention centres will close (Lenora, Scherger, Pontville, Port Augusta) see media reporting.
3 Feb 2014 - Human Rights Commission announces National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014.
5 Feb 2014 - Death of asylum seeker Rezene Mebrahta Engeda (suicide) in Melbourne.
6 Feb 2014 - Use of Temporary Humanitarian Concern visas (subclass 786) for asylum seekers announced - see RCOA summary and year '1999' above.
11 Feb 2014 - Database breach - details of people in Immigration detention inadvertently published on the DIBP website - see Ministerial media release (19 Feb 2014) and related media coverage, Sep 2015 Federal Court SZSSJ decision, reporting on subsequent appeal , Jul 2016 High Court decision on appeal, and Jul 2017 media on associated legal costs. AAT decision facilitating compensation Sep 2023.
16 - 17 Feb 2014 - Violence at Manus Island Regional Processing Centre and death of Reza Barati - see Ministerial media releases 17 Feb and 18 Feb. Later settlement with family Aug 2023
Feb 2014 - Welfare support on Nauru transitions from the Salvation Army to Save the Children (STC; subsequently transitions to Transfield (Oct 2015, later named Broadspectrum).
22 Feb 2014 - Release of Executive Report of the Review of the 19 July 2013 Incident at Nauru Regional Processing Centre (Hamburger report).
6 Mar 2014 - Australia mentioned in opening address High Commissioner for Human Rights Annual Report.
Mar 2014 - Minister for Immigration announces a cap of 2773 protection visas to year ending 30 Jun 2014.
Mar 2014 - Transfield (subsequently renamed Broadspectrum) assumes responsibility for welfare provision on Manus Island.
31 Mar 2014 - Removal of Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) funding for people arriving without a valid visa. See background information, media release, and related media coverage
1 May 2014 - Commission of Audit Report Table 8.7 on page 195 provides estimates of cost of different forms of detention.
13 May 2014 - Federal Budget - see RCOA analysis
Announced closure of immigration detention facilities:Aqua and Lilac on Christmas Island, Curtin, Darwin Airport Lodge, Inverbrackie, Leonora, Northern, Pontville, Port Augusta, Scherger.
States and Territories will take responsibility for service provision within Immigration detention (see media reporting).
ASAS and CAS become part of the new Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS).
14 May 2014- Migration Amendment Bill 2013 passed- excluding individuals with adverse security assessments from being granted a protection visa.
22 May 2014 - First Refugee Status Determinations handed down on Nauru (see media reporting on settlement provision).
23 May 2014 - Australian Government announces intention to 'fast-track' refugee claims using an enhanced screening process (see media reporting here and here).
26 May 2014 - Release of the report by Robert Cornall AO 'Review into the events 16 - 18 February 2014 at the Manus Regional Processing Centre'.
29 May 2014 - Release of the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) report: Access to Services for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
30 May 2014 - Reduced funding for the Refugee Council of Australia - see media.
Jun 2014 - Health screening for children in held detention commenced - no public information available.
1 Jun 2014 - Death of asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai (suicide) - see media.
13 Jun 2014 - Minister Morrison announces access to education for children held on Christmas Island - see media.
17 Jun 2014 - Labor party motion to end support for offshore processing - defeated on voices - see media.
20 Jun 2014 - High Court rules that cap on protection visas is invalid - see plaintiff M150/2013, plaintiff S297/2013 and media.
22 Jun 2014 - Media reporting that Minister Scott Morrison will seek to reintroduce temporary protection visas.
22 Jun 2014 - Death of asylum seeker Sayed Ibrahim Hussein in Nauru (drowning) - a Nauruan man also drowned trying to rescue him.
25 Jun 2014 - Minister Scott Morrison introduces a Bill for Amendments to the Migration Act proposing significant changes to processing asylum claims, requiring proof of identity, and reducing the threshold for assessing harm for asylum seekers returning to their countries of origin (see media reporting).
29 Jun 2014 - Boat carrying 157 Tamil asylum seekers intercepted at sea by Australian Border Patrol outside Australian territorial waters. The group were reported to be Tamil from Sri Lanka and had departed from India.
7 Jul 2014 - Confirmation 41 asylum seekers returned to Sri Lanka after interception and processing to assess claims of protection at sea - UNHCR comment and comment on media reporting.
8 Jul 2014 - High Court interim injunction restraining return of the 157 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka by the Australian Navy, without 72 hours written notice. See summary.
25 Jul 2014 - Announcement that Tamil asylum seekers held at sea to be taken to Curtin detention centre via Cocos Island.
30 Jul 2014 - Protecting the lonely children report released by the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce.
2 Aug 2014 - The group of Tamil asylum seekers who had been held at sea transferred to Nauru.
19 Aug 2014 -Minister Scott Morrison announces the release of some children from detention on bridging visas with increased support - specifically children <10 years (and their families) in held detention on the mainland or in community detention who arrived before 4:30pm on 19 Jul 2013. The release did not include children arriving after 19 Jul 2013, or children on Christmas Island or Nauru. As of Oct 2014, details of which families were to be released were otherwise unclear.
21 Aug 2014 - Further High Court hearing on Tamil asylum seekers.
22 Aug 2014- Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Children in detention - final hearing (see earlier hearings 31 Jul (Sydney), 2 Jul (Melbourne) and 4 Apr (Sydney).
6 Sep 2014 - Death of asylum seeker Hamid Khazaei in Brisbane after transfer from Manus Island, Queensland Coronial Inquiry announced, treating as a death in custody - see Coroners report (Jul 2018).
11 Sep 2014 - High Court ruling found that it was invalid for Immigration Minister to grant Temporary Safe Haven/Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa(s) to an asylum seeker who had been found to have a valid claim for refugee protection. The ruling also discussed the Constitutional limits to held immigration detention.
18 Sep 2014 - One year after Operation Sovereign Borders commences, announcement 12 boats have been turned back at sea.
24 Sep 2014- Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014 - extending powers of the Minister for Immigration to refuse visas on character grounds.
25 Sep 2014 - Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 introduced (passed 5 Dec 2014 - see below). See media summary, Australian Parliamentary Library Bills Digest, and submissions related to the bill.
26 Sep 2014 - MOU with Cambodiasigned, see UNHCR comment.
3 Oct 2014 - Minister Scott Morrison announces review of claims of child sexual abuse in Nauru OPC (released 20 Mar 2015 - see Moss Inquiry) and draft of Human Rights Commission Inquiry on Children in detention provided to DIBP.
5 Nov 2014 - Release of ' Beyond the Boats' - report from a policy roundtable held in Jul 2014.
6 Nov 2014 - Announcement Nauru will transition to open centre arrangement - see media.
11 Nov 2014- Announcement Detention Assurance Team to monitor service provider arrangements - see media.
12 Nov 2014 - first Refugee Status Determinations on PNG - see media.
Nov 2014 - Privacy Commissioner own motion investigation report on DIBP database breach (in Feb 2014).
18 Nov 2014 - Minister Scott Morrison announces Australia will not accept refugees from Indonesia who registered with UNHCR after 1 Jul 2014 see media.
3 Dec 2014 - Announcement of an increase in Australia's Humanitarian intake to 18,750 places by 2018-19 - see media.
4 Dec 2014 - Secretary for DIBP - Michael Pezzullo - speech to Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
5 Dec 2014 - Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 - passed (see version as passed by both Houses and legislative brief). Key amendments (of a range of legislation) relate to:
Removing most references to the Refugee Convention in the Migration Act.
Extending the Minister for Immigration’s powers to detain and transfer people intercepted at sea.
Introducing ‘fast track processing for the ‘legacy caseload’ and restricting or excluding rights of review; also introducing a new ‘Immigration Assessment Authority’ process.
Clarifying children born in Australia to non-citizen parents will have the same status as their parents.
Allowing the Minister for Immigration to cap the number of protection visas issued.
Reintroducing 3 year TPVs and introducing 5 year Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (also applicable to people in detention on mainland Australia and Christmas Island arriving after 19 Jul 2013) with work rights associated with these temporary visas.
Mid-Dec 2014 - Releases from held detention on Christmas Island and mainland commence.
10 Dec 2014 - Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Act 2014 (Cth) passed - see subsequent Dec 2016 Cth Ombudsman (own motion) report The Administration of s501 of the Migration Act 1958.
10 Dec 2014 - Tenders announced for service provider contracts for onshore detention (IHMS and Serco continue).
19 Dec 2014 - Media reporting on negotiations by Senator Ricky Muir to allow babies (born in Australia before 4 Dec 2014 to asylum seeker parents previously sent to Nauru) to remain in Australia (with their families) - SBS reporting.
21 Dec 2014- Minister Peter Dutton becomes Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, replacing Scott Morrison, who becomes Minister for Social Services. See media reporting.
31 Dec 2014 - Medicare cards for (all) asylum seekers holding a bridging visa E expire and require renewal - which is possible for people holding a current BVE who have signed a 'code of conduct'. Under the 'Health Insurance Act the Health Minister can allow non-citizens to access Medicare through a limited order - the order for the asylum seeker cohort expired 31 Dec 2014. This order was renewed, allowing people with a valid BVE to renew their Medicare. Figures from Sep 2014 showed 53% BVE were expired at the time. These Medicare cards subsequently expired again in Dec 2017, 2020 and ?2023.

2015

Jan 2015 - Hunger strike on Manus Island.
28 Jan 2015 - High court decision that detaining 157 Tamil asylum seekers at sea was lawful, also see commentary.
11 Feb 2015 - Australian Human Rights Commission report released: The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014).
19 Feb 2015 - Interception and return of Sri Lankan asylum seekers - see media.
25 Feb 2015 - Amnesty International Report 2014/15: State of the world's human rights released.
Feb 2015 - Most children and families released from mainland detention (those who had spent time offshore remained in held detention).
2 Mar 2015 - Protests on Nauru by released refugees - see media.
5 Mar 2015 - Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015 - also subsequent Senate Committee report.
Mar 2015 - Media reporting on new fishing boats for 'turn-backs'.
6 Mar 2015 - UN Torture Committee - Release of 'Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'.
13 Mar 2015 - Death of Iranian refugee (on temporary visa) Omid Ali Avaz (suicide) in Brisbane - see media.
20 Mar 2015 - Release of the Moss Inquiry into allegations on conditions and circumstances on Nauru, after submission on 6 February 2015, subsequent announcement of Senate Inquiry ( media reporting).
26 Mar 2015 - New MOU with Cambodia - also see Minister Dutton's media release.
Apr 2015 - Processing of TPVs commences.
13 Apr 2015 - Migration Amendment (Protection and other Measures) Act, 2015 (Cth) includes changes to allow rapid renewal of Bridging Visa E.
Apr 2015 - UNICEF report: Review of the child protection system on Nauru (actual date of publication unclear, data collection Jan - Apr 2015).
9 May 2015 - Child Protection Panel announced by Minister Dutton (see final Child Protection Panel Report, dated May 2016, released Dec 2016).
19 May 2015- Senate Inquiry into allegations of abuse and assault on Nauru.
20 May 2015 - Australian Border Force Act  (and later Australian Border Force Amendment (Protected Information) Bill 2017)
26 May 2015 - Select Committee on the Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru established - see subsequent public hearings.
31 May 2015 - Reports that NSW indicates support in principle for SHEV visas.
5 Jun 2015 - Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee - Report on the Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015.
Jun 2015 - Labour supports amendment to Migration Act in relation to offshore processing - see media.
Jun 2015 - Large numbers of men detained on Manus Island join legal case contesting detention - see media.
17 Jun 2015 - Death of asylum seeker Raza (suicide) in Perth.
1 Jul 2015 - Australian Border Force (ABF) commences operation - see media.
Jul 2015 - Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) become available - see information (note - updated since initial release), and list of regional postcodes (from Oct 2016)
Jul 2015 - Media reporting - Healthcare services in detention.
1 Aug 2015 - Death of 27 yr old Mohammad Nasim Najafi in Yongah Hill IDC - see media.
6 Aug 2015 - Media - 633 asylum seekers on boats 'turned back'.
31 Aug 2015 - Release of Senate Inquiry Report: Taking responsibility: conditions and circumstances at Australia's Regional Processing Centre in Nauru.
31 Aug 2015 - Announcement of Transfield as preferred tender for Manus and Nauru facilities - see media.
2 Sep 2015 - Federal Court SZSSJ decision in relation to the database breach, also see media reporting and reporting on subsequent appeal and Jul 2016 High Court decision on appeal, and Jul 2017 media reporting on associated legal costs. AAT decision facilitating compensation Sep 2023.
4 Sep 2015 - New Independent reviewer of Adverse Security Assessments appointed - Robert Cornall - see media.
9 Sep 2015 - Announcement of 12,000 additional places for Syrian and Iraqi refugees - see media and additional support in response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis.
11 Sep 2015 - DIBP Surgeon General announced Dr John Brayley.
17 Sep 2015 - NT Supreme Court judgement on jurisdiction to grant injunctions (case on behalf of a 5-year old child) - see Jun 2017 settlement of negligence claims and media.
17 Sep 2015 - Death of asylum seeker Ali Jaffari (suicide) in Yongah Hill IDC - see media.
Oct 2015 - Amnesty report on Operation Sovereign Borders - By Hook or by Crook.
Oct 2015 - Welfare support on Nauru transitions from STC to Transfield. Transfield becomes the sole provider of garrison and welfare services at both offshore processing centres, subsequently renamed Broadspectrum.
5 Oct 2015 -Announcement Nauru detention centre transition to full 24/7 open centre model and processing of all remaining asylum claims 'within one week'- see Ministerial media release, media (open centre) and media (processing).
6 Oct 2015 - Announcement High Court will hear challenge to offshore detention - see Feb 2016 judgement summary.
9 Oct 2015 - Media on resettlement for refugees in Philippines - subsequent (28 Oct 15) media Philippines not likely to be site of settlement.
Oct 2015 - Series of media reports in the Australian newspaper by Chris Kenny about conditions for refugees on Nauru.
15 Oct 2015 - Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2015.
18 Oct 2015 - Death of asylum seeker Khodayar Amini (suicide) in Dandenong, Victoria - see media reporting.
19 Oct 2015 - Senate Estimates - DIBP portfolio.
23 Oct 2015 - Media reporting that refugees on Manus Island will be resettled in PNG.
27 Oct 2015 - Death of asylum seeker Reza (suicide) at Brisbane airport - see media.
31 Oct 2015 - Save the Children finish working on Nauru - see media reporting, background on raids on the STC offices, and Doogan report (May 2015, released Jan 2016).
2-13 Nov 2015 - UNHCR Universal periodic review - includes Nauru and Australia.
2 Nov 2015 - Media speculation on Kyrgyzstan as site of resettlement.

8 Nov 2015 - Christmas Island riots and death of Fazel Chegeni - see media, images of damage - (media on Coronial Inquest Jul 2018).
8 Nov 2015 - Possible further increase on Syrian refugee intake flagged - see media reporting.
20 Nov 2015 - Changes to offshore pre-migration screening for permanent entrants see DIBP fact sheet - including new tuberculosis screening children 2-10 years.

2016

15 Jan 2016 - Doogan report released - review of the dismissal of Save the Children staff in Nauru in Oct 2014.
3 Feb 2016 - High Court M68 decision handed down - see judgement summary, and full judgement.
8 Feb 2016 - Senate Estimates - DIBP portfolio.
Feb 2016 - 'Let them stay' protest movement - see media reporting.
Mar 2016 - RCOA report: Economic Migrants or Refugees? Analysis of of refugee recognition rates for boat arrivals, 1976-2015
18 Mar 2016 - Fast track applicant status and children born in Australia - Children of people who arrived in Australia as UMAs born in the migration zone on or after 6 Nov 2013 and before 5 Dec 2014 considered to be fast track applicants - see legislative amendment.
21 Mar 2016 - Minister for Immigration granted special leave to appeal to High Court over the Federal Court decision on the database breach - see media and later (Jul 2017) media on associated legal costs. AAT decision facilitating compensation Sep 2023.
1 Apr 2016 - Last children released from mainland immigration detention - cohort of children and families who had spent time on Nauru - see media.
15 Apr 2016 - Victorian government announces additional funding for legal support for refugees - see media.
20 Apr 2016 - Broadspectrum acquired by Ferrovial.
25 Apr 2016 - PNG Supreme Court rules against detention of asylum seekers in Manus Island - see media, and link to full judgement, Minister Dutton's media release and Aug 2017 High Court ruling
27 Apr 2016 - Death of Omid Masoumali - (suicide) a 23 yr old refugee on Nauru self immolates, later dying 29 Apr in Brisbane - see DIBP media release and media.
27 Apr 2016 - PNG PM Peter O'Neill announces the Manus Island detention centre will be closed.
Apr 2016 - Death of asylum seeker Mohammad Nazari (suicide) - see media reporting.
2 May 2016 - Hodan - a young female refugee on Nauru also self immolates, see media reporting, also media on another attempt, and media on the response in Nauru - from Minister David Adeang.
5 May 2016 - Interim report Senate Inquiry into the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees at the regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Subsequently referred on to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee 12 Sep 2016.
6 May 2016 - DIBP releases a media statement on Save the Children staff removed from Nauru in Oct 2014, also see Doogan report.
6 May 2016 - Federal Court decision (Bromberg): Plaintiff S99/2016 vs. Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (complex medical needs/duty of care/termination of pregnancy).
11 May 2016 - Death of Rakib Khan (suspected suicide) in Nauru - see media.
17 May 2016 - Minister Dutton comments on 'illiterate and inumerate refugees' attracting widespread media reporting.
27 May 2016 - Nauru legislative amendments - decriminalising suicide and homosexuality - see Nauru media release.
Jun 2016 - Nauru Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2016 - also see comments by UNICEF.
Jun 2016 - Death of Mohammad Hadi - Hazara asylum seeker (suicide) in Sydney.
Jul 2016 - Wickham Point detention centre closes - see media.
27 Jul 2016 - High Court decision on appeal on Federal Court ruling in SZSSJ case (database breach) and subsequent (Jul 2017) media reporting on associated legal costs.  AAT decision facilitating compensation Sep 2023.
Aug 2016 - Release of the Detention Capability Review (Connell).
Aug 2016 - Death of Pakistani Kamil Hussain - drowns on Manus Island.
10 Aug 2016 - Guardian reporting on the 'Nauru files' - containing a large number of incident reports.
25 Aug 2016 - Delegation of Danish politicians to visit Nauru - see media.
27 Aug 2016 - Death of Saeed Hassanloo (suicide) in Hobart - see Tasmanian Coroners findings Feb 2022 (his brother, Majid Hassanloo dies in Jul 2017)
31 Aug 2016 - Victorian government announces $15M in support for vocational training and education for asylum seekers.
1 Sep 2016 - ANAO Audit released: Delivery of health services in onshore immigration detention.
1 Sep 2016 - Wilson security announces they will not continue past 2017 - see media.
Sep 2016 - UNICEF report on child refugees.
12 Sep 2016 - Senate Inquiry: Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre. Referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 Mar 2017. Public hearings 11 and 15 Nov 2016, and 8 Feb 2017.
13 Sep 2016 - ANAO Audit: Offshore Processing Centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea: Procurement of Garrison Support and Welfare Services also see related ANAO Audit Jan 2017.
14 Sep 2016 - Australian Human Rights Commission report released: Pathways to Protection: A human rights based response to the flight of asylum seekers by sea.
15 Sep 2016 - Minister Dutton - speech at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
19 Sep 2016 - UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants - addressing large movements of refugees and migrants - see draft declaration.
19 Sep 2016 - Reporting that Connect Settlement Services will cease on Nauru in Dec 2016 - see media.
21 Sep 2016 - PM Turnbull announces Australia will take Central American refugees as part of the annual intake - see media.
23 Sep 2016 - Victorian Government Budget announcement 2016-17 - Refugee and asylum seeker health and wellbeing.
30 Sep 2016 - UN Committee on the Rights of the Child examines Nauru’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
1 Oct 2016 - Amendments to the Australian Border Force Act 2015 specifying exclusion of health practitioners.
13 Oct 2016 - Announcement of C^th Procurement Inquiry - Delivery of Health Services in Onshore Immigration Detention - see subsequent findings.
17 Oct 2016 - DIBP Child Safeguarding Framework released.
17 Oct 2016 - Release of Amnesty International reporting on Nauru.
18 Oct 2016 - Senate Estimates - Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.
27 Oct 2016 - SHEV visa arrangements expanded to include Victoria, SA, WA, ACT and Queensland, list of regional postcodes.
8 Nov 2016 - Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016, subsequent opposed by ALP (see media).
1-18 Nov 2016 - UN Special Rapporteur on Migrants - see report on Nov 2016 visit to Australia and Nauru.
11-15 Nov 2016 - Public hearings of Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre, also see final report.
13 Nov 2016 - Announcement of resettlement in the United States for refugees on Nauru and Manus - press conference, DIBP media release, media, and reporting on associated maritime operation, 20-year Nauru visas, and John Kerry in NZ.
20 Nov 2016 - Death of 38 yr old female asylum seeker Fereshteh (suicide) in Perth.
Dec 2016 - C^th Ombudsman (own motion) report - The Administration of s501 of the Migration Act 1958.
Dec 2016 - C^thOmbudsman (own motion) report - The Administration of People who have had their Bridging Visas Cancelled due to Criminal Charges or Convictions and are Held in Immigration Detention.
Dec 2016 - Australian Parliamentary Library - Offshore processing quick guide and statistics.
16 Dec 2016 - Release of the Child Protection Panel Report, also see DIBP response.
16 Dec 2016 - Federal Court judgement: BMF16 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (delay in citizenship processing).
24 Dec 2016 - Death of Faysal Ahmed in Manus Island detention centre - see DIBP statement, media reporting death, and access to care. Referred to the Senate Committee and Queensland Coroner.
31 Dec 2016 - Indonesia: Regulation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 125 Year 2016 Concerning the Handling of Foreign Refugees.

2017

17 Jan 2017 - ANAO audit - Offshore Processing Centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea - Contract Management of Garrison Support and Welfare Services. See DIBP media response and related ANAO Audit Sep 2016.
27 Jan 2017 - US Executive Order on Immigration - see full text. Key details - halts all refugee arrivals for 120 days; caps the US refugee intake at 50,000 (previously 110,000 in 2016); halts entry from seven (Muslim majority) countries (Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen ) for 90 days, and halts the entry of refugees from Syria indefinitely - see media explainer, and UN statement (31 Jan 2017).
29 Jan 2017 - Confirmation US resettlement deal will proceed - see media and transcript of conversation between PM Turnbull and President Trump (3 Aug 2017).
Feb 2017 - Dengue outbreak on Nauru - Government of Nauru reports 901 cases over Jan - Mar 2017, including 70 cases in the refugee community.
1 Feb 2017 - First reporting of numbers in US resettlement deal - 1250 people - see media reporting and video.
2 Feb 2017 - US resettlement details unclear after conversation between US President Trump and Australian PM Turnbull - see media and transcript of call.
8 Feb 2017 - Public hearing of Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre also see final report.
8 Feb 2017 - Victorian Supreme Court judgement (child protection and immigration detention): The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services v A A and A B [2017] VSC 34, also see Premier's media release.
14 Feb 2017 - Stanford Law School - Communiqué to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Under Article 15 of the Rome Statute: The Situation in Nauru and Manus Island: Liability for Crimes Against Humanity.
27 Feb 2017 - Senate Estimates - DIBP (also see responses to questions on notice).
8 Mar 2017 - Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - Case study 51 (includes DIBP). See Final Report - Dec 2017 (section 15 Contemporary Detention Environments).
14-20 Mar 2017 - Public hearings of Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre, also see final report.
24 Mar 2017 - Senate Estimates - DIBP (also see responses to questions on notice).
27 Mar 2017 - Victorian Supreme Court ruling that a class action should not proceed (claim of negligence against the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection relating to Christmas Island, will proceed as an individual claim) - subsequent out of court settlement for lead claimant - see media and Jul 2017 notice of settlement.
31 Mar 2017 - IHMS depart Manus Island with concerns around licensing - see media reporting.
9 Apr 2017 - Minister Peter Dutton announces Manus Island RPC will close by 31 Oct 2017.
14 Apr 2017 - Violence at Manus Island detention centre - see media.
24 Apr 2017 - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on his mission to Australia and the regional processing centres in Nauru.
26 Apr 2017 - Out of court settlement for a child asylum seeker claiming inadequate care - see media.
May 2017 - Initial steps to close Manus Island detention centre - see media.
3 May 2017 - High Court ruling (M96) that the Constitution allows detention of asylum seekers transferred from offshore detention to Australia.
9 May 2017 - Federal Budget - see DIBP Portfolio Budget Statement 2016-17.
19 May 2017 - Media reporting that Nauru had offered accomodation to asylum seekers on Manus Island.
21 May 2017 - Minister Peter Dutton 'Lodge or leave' media release - announces deadline for legacy caseload to submit protection claims by 1 Oct 2017 - see media release, subsequently, only 71 people do not submit claims.
22-23 May 2017 - Senate Estimates - DIBP.
Jun 2017 - Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Nauru - subsequently commencing work in Nauru in Nov 2017, and being asked to leave by the Government of Nauru in Oct 2018.
13 Jun 2017- UN Special Rapporteur on Migrants report on Nov 2016 visit to Australia and Nauru.
14 Jun 2017 - Victorian Supreme Court - Manus Island Detention Centre Class Action - $70 million settlement announced.
15 Jun 2017 - Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017.
16 Jun 2017 - Settlement of negligence claims in case relating to 5-year old child (media).
3 Jul 2017 - Death of Majid Hassanloo - Iranian asylum seeker in NSW - brother of Saeed Hassanloo, who died (suicide) in Aug 2016 - see Tasmanian Coroners findings (Feb 2022)
5 Jul 2017 - Media reporting on two Australian citizens in immigration detention.
12 Jul 2017 - US reaches annual (reduced) refugee entrant cap (50,000 people; previously 110,000/year) - see media. Subsequently reduces to 18,000 people/year from 2019.
17 Jul 2017 - Victorian Supreme Court - Manus Island Detention Centre Class Action - Notice of proposed settlement.
18 Jul 2017 - Announcement of Department of Home Affairs (DHA) - merging DIBP, ABF, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (ATRAC) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) - see media.
24 Jul 2017 - UNHCR statement on ending offshore detention and family reunion cases.
31 Jul 2017 - 17 Cuban people arriving to the US by boat are resettled in Australia - see media.
3 Aug 2017 - Publication of the transcript of conversation between PM Malcolm Turnbull and President Donald Trump.
7 Aug 2017 - Death of Hamid Shamshiripour (suicide) on Manus Island - see media.
9 Aug 2017 - Australian Border Force Amendment (Protected Information) Bill 2017, also see explanatory memorandum.
17 Aug 2017 - Unsuccessful appeal against injunction preventing removal of mobile phones in detention (Federal Court) - see media.
17 Aug 2017 - High Court ruling - Manus Island detention not invalid or precluded under the Constitution by reason of the PNG Supreme Court 'Namah' decision - see judgement summary.
17 Aug 2017 - Changes to claims process for people affected by the Feb 2014 DIBP data breach Migration (IMMI 17/015: Person who is a Fast Track Applicant) Instrument 2017 - also see Refugee Legal fact sheet.
27 Aug 2017 - Final Departure Bridging Visa E (FD-BVE) - Announcement that 100 asylum seekers transferred from Regional Processing Centres to Australia for medical care would be provided with a 'final departure Bridging visa E', with immediate loss of income support, loss of housing after 3 weeks, and expectation of return to the RCP or their countries of origin - see fact sheet, media, Victorian Refugee Legal update.
9 Sep 2017 - Victorian government announces financial support for individuals affected by the FD-BVE - see media.
14 Sep 2017 - Draft Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2017 introduced.
27 Sep 2017 - The first 52 refugees depart RPCs for the US - see media.
1 Oct 2017 - Deadline for individuals in legacy caseload to submit protection claims - only 71 individuals do not submit claims.
2 Oct 2017 - Death of Rajeev Rajendran (suicide) on Manus island in Lorengau hospital - see media.
Oct 2017 - Transition to new Humanitarian Settlement Program model in Department of Social Services (DSS) - settlement services transferred back to DHA May 2019 after re-election of the Morrison government.
16 Oct 2017 - Australia elected to UN Human Rights Council.
23 Oct 2017 - Senate Estimates - includes discussion on departure of Dr John Brayley, Canstruct taking on Welfare and Garrison on Nauru, and IHMS contracts on Manus Island extended until end Feb 2018.
31 Oct 2017 - (planned) closure of Manus Island detention centre - withdrawal of services (water/electricity) and ABF/Broadspectrum staff and transition to other accommodation - 600 men remain within centre, UNHCR statement 18 Oct 2017, and UNHCR statement 2 Nov 2017.
31 Oct 2017 - Media on medical care in Nauru.
Nov 2017 - MSF begin work in Nauru - providing mental health care, subsequently being asked to leave by the Government of Nauru in Oct 2018.
3 Nov 2017 - Death of 29 year old Bengali asylum seeker - motor vehicle accident on Nauru - see media.
5 Nov 2017 - Meeting between the PMs of Australia and NZ - media that Australia declines NZ offer to resettle 150 refugees from offshore processing.
13 Nov 2017 - AMA statement on Manus Island.
27 Nov 2017 - Letter from past and current Presidents of Medical Colleges on Manus Island.
Nov 2017 - SRSS payments stopped for asylum seekers found to have sent money overseas while on SRSS.
Dec 2017 - High Court case challenging the Fast Track Assessment Process - see transcript.
4 Dec 2017 - Greens motion to accept the NZ resettlement offer passes, prior to failing at a re-run - see media.
5 Dec 2017 - Senate disallows changes to Migration Regulations.
12 Dec 2017 - Letter from RANZCP, RACGP and RACP on healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island - see media release.
15 Dec 2017 - Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - Final Report tabled, also (section 15 Contemporary Detention Environments).
21 Dec 2017 - Department of Home Affairs (DHA) commences- incorporating DIBP, ABF, AFP, ASIO, AUSTRAC, ACIC, national security, emergency management/criminal justice from the Attorney-General's Department; Office of Transport Security from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development; multicultural affairs from the DSS; and the counter-terrorism coordination and cyber security policy functions from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
21 Dec 2017 - Australia ratifies OPCAT - Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, C^th Ombudsman's Office subsequently appointed as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) body for C^th places of detention (1 Jul 2018).
31 Dec 2017 - All asylum seeker's Medicare cards expire again, related to the designation of non-citizen Medicare under the Health Insurance Act (renewed end 2014 for 3 years, which expired).

2018

Jan 2018 - Second groups of refugees leave Manus (58 men) and Nauru (130 people) for US settlement - see media.
31 Jan 2018 - Nauru 50th anniversary of independence - announcement of Constitution Amendment Bill (2018) - to establish a Nauruan appellate court and remove the Australian High Court as the final Court for appeals in the Nauruan system.
9 Feb 2018 - Child transfer - Federal Court interlocutory injunction for transfer of a child from Nauru to Australia (Vic).
14 Feb 2018 - Migration Amendment (Clarification of Jurisdiction) Bill 2018.
15 Feb 2018 - Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Commitments for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2018.
12 Mar 2018 - Child transfer: Federal Court interlocutory injunction for transfer of a 10 year old boy from Nauru to Australia (NSW).
12 Mar 2018 - Movement of Tamil family on FDBVE into detention attracts media reporting.
26 Mar 2018 - Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) statement on SRSS cuts.
14 Apr 2018 - Application for Federal Court injunction averted through medical transfer of a child from Nauru to Australia (see media).
18 Apr 2018 - Reporting that a further 50 refugees have been approved for US settlement (Radio NZ).
18 Apr 2018 - High Court upholds the Fast Track Assessment Process - Case M174/2016.
May 2018 - Questions on Notice (Senate Estimates) confirm 494 people transferred from Nauru or Manus for medical care (including 31 children) with 322 accompanying family members (over the period 2012/13 FY - 2016/17 FY). Subsequent reporting 1 Nov 2018 - 244 minors in Australia from Nauru.
15 May 2018 - Death of Salim, Rohingyan refugee in Manus (suspected suicide) - see media.
21-23 May 2018 - Senate Estimates Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
29 May 2018 - fourth group of 18 refugees transferred from Manus to the US (Radio NZ).
6 Jun 2018 - ANAO Audit: The Integration of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
15 Jun 2018 - Death of Fariborz Karami in Nauru (suicide) - see media, his body was transferred to Australia subsequently.
20 Jun 2018 - Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018 introduced - retrospectively authorising Ashmore Reef as a port (relevant to migration zone excisions) - also see Senate Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills.
19 Jun 2018 - A further 6 refugees transferred from Manus to the US (total of 292 refugees transferred from Manus to US at the time) however Estimates (Oct 2018) reports 163 refugees transferred from Manus to US to date - reasons for discrepancy not clear).
20 Jun 2018 - UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - reports on cases of indefinite detention in Australia.
22 Jun 2018 - Federal Court rules that asylum seekers can access mobile phones in immigration detention.
29 Jun 2018 - 63 yr old Afghan refugee transferred from Nauru to Australia for palliative care - see media, RACP statement, AMA statement.
1 Jul 2018 - C^th Ombudsman's Office appointment as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) body for C^th places of detention
Jul 2018 - Dr Parbodh Gogna appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer/Surgeon General for DHA/ABF.
3 Jul 2018 - Child transfer - Court order that 2 yr old with encephalitis be transferred to Australia (born Nauru, transferred to PNG for care) - see media. Later (3 Nov 2023) - DIZ18 vs Minister for Home Affairs - Federal Court approves settlement in this case.
8 Jul 2018 - A further 22 refugees transferred from Nauru to the US - see media.
13 Jul 2018 - Child transfer - Court orders that mother and son be transferred from Nauru to Australia - see media.
30 Jul 2018 - Queensland Coroner - Findings of Inquest into the death of Hamid Khazaei.
Aug 2018 - Increasing numbers of seriously unwell children transferred from Nauru to Australia - see media: adolescent girl, adolescent girl & two other children,12 yr old boy.
3 Aug 2018 - Senate Estimates - Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, (includes total of 371 refugees transferred from Nauru to US to date - however in Estimates (Oct 2018) DHA reported 276 refugees transferred from Nauru to US to date - reasons for discrepancy not clear.
20 Aug 2018 - Reporting that New Zealand had made a direct offer to Nauru to resettle refugees (which was not taken up).
21 Aug 2018 - Minister Peter Dutton challenges for leadership of the Liberal Party, then resigns - see media.
23 Aug 2018 - Senate Inquiry - Allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers, with respect to the visa status of au pairs, and related matters
23 Aug 2018 - Reports that a 12 yr old girl has attempted immolation in Nauru.
24 Aug 2018 - Scott Morrison replaces Malcolm Turnbull as PM.
26 Aug 2018 - Separation of Immigration portfolio from the DHA (Minister Peter Dutton)- forming the new Department of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, with the announcement of the new Minister David Coleman. After the May 2019 re-election of the Morrison government, Minister Coleman sits within DHA.
29 Aug 2018 - Death of Tamil asylum seeker (suicide) in Logan - see media.
2 Sep 2018 - Fires at Yongah Hill IDC - see media.
6 Sep 2018 - Death of Saruuan Aljhelie (suicide) Yongah Hill IDC - see media, and later media on subsequent inquest (Oct 2021) and Coroners inquest (note spelling Sarwan Al Jhelie)
Early Sep 2018 - Australian injunction for medical transfer blocked by Nauru government - see media reporting.
10 Sep 2018 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - opening statement.
Oct 2018 - increasing medical transfers from Nauru, particularly children, increasing number Federal Court injunctions for medical care in Australia, increasing public debate - see media.
4 Oct 2018 - Christmas Island detention centre closes - see media, later re-opens in Mar 2019, with a plan for closure in Jul 2019. Opens again 2020, and 2023.
5 Oct 2018 - MSF instructed to leave Nauru by Nauru government - see information on medical records transfer and subsequent statement by the Government of Nauru.
15 Oct 2018 - Labour considers private members bill around medical transfers from Nauru - see media.
16 Oct 2018 - PM Scott Morrison indicates possibility of resettlement in New Zealand for refugees in Nauru - pending legislation to prevent subsequent entry to Australia - see media.
16 Oct 2018 - Media reporting on case brought to the UN around family separation.
16 Oct 2018 - 17 refugees leave Manus for the United States - see media.
17 Oct 2018 - IHMS senior doctor deported from Nauru - see media.
20 Oct 2018 - Wentworth by-election - increasing debate and discussion on offshore processing.
22 Oct 2018 - Senate Estimates Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee - 652 people on island, including 52 children; 541 refugees, 23 failed asylum seekers, and 88 people still in the refugee status determination process, with a total 107 family units. Noted that 276 people have resettled in the United States (fewer than reported in previous Estimates hearing).
23 Oct 2018 - UNHCR calls for urgent action by the Australian government for all refugees and asylum seekers in Nauru and Manus.
26 Oct 2018 - DHA challenges the legal authority of the federal court jurisdiction around injunctions.
Oct 2018 - Deloitte Access Economics report Regional Futures, Economic and social impact of Karen resettlement in Bendigo.
1 Nov 2018 - Announcement that all refugee and asylum seeker children in Nauru would be brought to Australia - see The Australian (reporting indicates 40 children remaining in Nauru and 244 minors in Australia from Nauru) and George Brandis on London radio.
21 Nov 2018 - Announcement that Australia will not sign the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration - see media.
3 Dec 2018 - Medecins Sans Frontieres release report on offshore processing in Nauru - Indefinite Despair.
3 Dec 2018 - Migration Amendment (Urgent Medical Treatment) Bill 2018 (Phelps/Wilkie).
6 Dec 2018 - Senate passes provisions in the Migration Amendment Bill 2018, but delays in the Senate prevent the Bill going to the lower House on the last sitting day.
14 Dec 2018 - Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet announces an independent review of Integration, employment and settlement outcomes - see media Sep 2019. 'Shergold report' released 22 Nov 2019, with DHA response.
End Dec 2018 - Maribyrnong IDC closes after more than 30 years - see media.

2019

25 Jan 2019 - Death of a male detainee, Moses Kellie, in Villawood IDC - see media.
2 Feb 2019 - last remaining transferred children on Nauru leave to settle in the US - see media.
4 Feb 2019 - PM Scott Morrison announces a new independent medical review panel to oversee transfers of asylum seekers from regional processing centres (see media).
13 Feb 2019- 'Medevac Bill' (amendments to the Migration Act (1958)) - passes both Houses of Parliament, establishing the Independent Health Advice Panel (IHAP), and provisions around medical transfers from Nauru and Manus Island.
19 Feb 2019 - Nauru announces a new Medical Referrals Compliance Committee, with media indicating transfers will not be permitted where assessment has been completed remotely by an overseas-based doctor.
Mar 2019 - ANAO audit - Procurement of Garrison Support and Welfare Services - examining contracts on Manus and Nauru.
1 Mar 2019 - 'Medevac Bill' (amendments to the Migration Act (1958)) - receives assent (by 26 Aug 2019 there had been 110 medical transfers).
4 Mar 2019 - Death of 25 yr old Iraqi male Milad Aljaberi in Villawood IDC - suspected suicide - see media.
6 Mar 2019 - Christmas Island detention centre reopens - see media reporting with later announcements of a plan for closure in Jul 2019.
26 Mar 2019 - Migration (Fast Track Applicant Class – Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise visa Holders) Instrument - LIN 19/007 introduced - meaning all current or former TPV/SHEV holders who apply for a subsequent protection order from 2 Apr 2019 will be processed under the same fast track application process.
31 Mar 2019 - First IHAP summary report tabled (required under Medevac legislation) - see response.
2 Apr 2019 - Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.
4-8 Apr 2019 - Senate Estimates (Budget Estimates) - Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
18 May 2019 - Australian federal election - with re-election of the Coalition government.
Minister David Coleman becomes the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs after the re-election of the Morrison Government.
Settlement services moves back to DHA (from DSS - from 2013, previously DIAC).
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) - moves back to DHA (from Department of Employment - from 2013, also previously DIAC).
23 May 2019 - Australian Airforce and Sri Lankan Navy find and intercept Sri Lankan asylum seekers at sea, reported to be the second boat in recent weeks.
Jun 2019 - 531 refugees have been resettled in the United States from Nauru and Manus.
10 Jun 2019 - A Somali man attempted immolation on Manus, with reports of more than 70 suicide attempts in the weeks following the Australian federal election (see media reporting)
30 Jun 2019 - 2nd IHAP summary report tabled (required under Medevac legislation) - also see response.
4 Jul 2019 - Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019 [Provisions] introduced, and referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee - see report Sep 2019.
4 Jul 2019 - Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019 [Provisions] introduced, and referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee - see report Sep 2019.
13 Jul 2019 - Death of a 23 yr old Abdul Aziz (Afghani asylum seeker) at MITA - see media.
25 Jul 2019 - Medevac repeal( Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019) passes within House of Representatives, subsequently referred to Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, with reporting in Oct 2019. Of 94 public submissions to the Inquiry, only 2 (DHA and IHMS) in favour of repealing the legislation. Bill subsequently passes 4 Dec 2019.
Aug 2019 - Remaining refugees in Manus offered transfer to Port Moresby - see media, at the same time, asylum seekers moved from Manus to Bomana Immigration Centre in Port Moresby - see media.
22 Aug 2019 - 619 refugees resettled in the United States, including from 330 from Nauru and 279 from Manus.
24 Aug 2019 - Death of an Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker by suicide (see Border Deaths database).
29 Aug 2019 - Tamil family from Biloela flown to Christmas Island after an injunction halted deportation to Sri Lanka - see media including timeline of legal appeals.
Sep 2019 - Shift in US resettlement policy for refugees who have been on Nauru or Manus, with people able to apply directly from Australia (deadline for application 20 Sep 2019) - see media (including information sheet) and Kaldor Centre fact sheet.
11 Sep 2019 - Second IHAP report tabled - see media. Full report not available.
13 Sep 2019 - Reports from the Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on the Strengthening the Character Test Bill and the Regional Processing Cohort Bill
28 Sep 2019 - Refugee Council of Australia - Offshore Processing Statistics.
30 Sep 2019 - Third IHAP report (and response).
Oct 2019 - Report of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 [Provisions]. Committee recommended that Senate pass the Bill repealing the Medevac legislation. Of 94 public submissions to the Inquiry, only two (DHA and IHMS) in favour of repealing the legislation. Five Medical Colleges and AMA contributed submissions.
15 Oct 2019 - Death of asylum seeker Dr Sayed Mirwais Rohani by suicide in Brisbane after medical transfer from Manus Island in 2017 - see media.
21-22 Oct 2019 - 2019-20 Supplementary Budget Estimates - Legal and Constitutional Affairs. At this time there were 341 notifications under the Medevac legislation, of which 293 were found to be valid applications, and 135 had been transferred to Australia.
23 Oct 2019 - Australian Human Rights Commission report: Use of force in immigration detention.
2 Nov 2019 - ASEAN Declaration on the Rights of Children in the Context of Migration.
3 Nov 2019 - media on option of private sponsorship of refugees to Canada.
Nov 2019 - American refugee intake reduced further - to 18,000 people in 2020 - see media.
22 Nov 2019- 'Shergold report' released - Investing in Refugees, Investing in Australia: the findings of a Review into Integration, Employment and Settlement Outcomes for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants in Australia - also DHA response.
29 Nov 2019 - Minister Coleman announces the appointment of a C^th Coordinator-General for Migrant Services within DHA, Alison Larkins and increased regional settlement - to 50% by 2022
4 Dec 2019 - 'Medevac' repealed - by the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019, after passing the Senate, with the vote resting on independent Senator Jacquie Lambie (see media, and UNHCR comment).
12 Dec 2019 - ANAO Audit: Delivery of the Humanitarian Settlement Program.
13 Dec 2019 - Alan Tudge replaces David Coleman as A/g Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
18 Dec 2019 - DHA figures - (see FOI documents from Estimates 3/2020).
Manus - 196 people remaining in Manus (179 refugees, 17 failed asylum seekers), 254 people in Australia (medical transfers), and 322 people departed for 3rd country resettlement (310 to US).
Nauru - 252 people remaining in Nauru - 195 refugees, 38 in RSD process, 19 failed asylum seekers), 941 people in Australia and 2 in Taiwan (medical transfers), and 366 people departed for 3rd country resettlement (353 to US).
Offshore removals and returns - 2016-17 - 62 voluntary, 4 involuntary; 2017-18 - 95 voluntary, 14 involuntary; 2018-19 - 11 voluntary, 0 involuntary, 2019-20 (until end 11/2019) 5 voluntary, 0 involuntary.
2019 - Australian Human Rights Commission report: Inspections of Australia's immigration detention facilities 2019 report (released 3 Dec 2020).

2020

Jan 2020 - Interviews for US settlement for refugees in Australia as medical transfers who spent time in Manus in Nauru.
24 Jan 2020 - Last 18 men held in Bomana Immigration Centre released - see media.
11 Feb 2020 - Implementation of OPCAT in Australia.
13 Feb 2020 - International Criminal Court response to concerns raised by MP Andrew Wilkie - also see press release, and media.
13 Feb 2020 - Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.
17 Feb 2020 - C^th Ombudsman releases report: Immigration Detention Oversight - Report into the current state of immigration detention facilities.
25 Feb 2020 - Court hearings in Melbourne on Tamil family from Biloela - see media.
2 Mar 2020 - Senate Estimates - Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee - DHA - 702 refugees have been resettled in the US from Manus and Nauru, and a further 260 people have a provisional positive decision on US settlement, some located in Australia. At this time there were 228 men remaining in PNG and 211 remaining in Nauru (439 people in offshore processing, and 1220 from the offshore cohort in Australia).
Subsequent questions on notice - 4183 people (IMA) transferred to regional processing since Sep 2012; 2063 in Australia, 230 PNG, 211 Nauru, 719 resettled in 3rd country and 942 returned to their country of origin.
11 Mar 2020 – WHO declares Coronavirus pandemic.
16 Mar 2020 – IOM and UNHCR suspend resettlement travel for refugees see press release. People with a 202 visa may still travel to Australia pending flight availability, quarantine applied to international arrivals.
18 Mar 2020 - Guard at Kangaroo Point APOD in Qld tests positive for coronavirus - see media.
24 Mar 2020 – Australian Immigration Detention visitor program suspended.
31 Mar 2020 – OHCHR, IOM, UNHCR and WHO joint press release - The rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless must be protected in COVID-19 response.
31 Mar 2020 – CDNA guidelines for COVID in correctional and detention facilities, later revised Jun 2020 and Aug 2020.
6 Apr 2020 - DHA correspondence on Covid management in detention (FOI documents)
17 Apr 2020 - Federal Court rules youngest child of the Tamil family from Biloela was not afforded procedural fairness - see media, costs later awarded.
May 2020 - Media 120 men from Manus in Kangaroo Point Central Hotel APOD in Qld, and 60 men from Manus in Mantra Hotel Preston, Vic - transferred under Medevac legislation - ongoing protests at their detention, and increased risk due to coronavirus.
3 May 2020 - death of Mokhatar Salehi Boubani (suicide in NSW) - 41 yr old Iranian asylum seeker whose protection application was rejected.
6 May 2020 - NRAAG - COVID-19 consultation report.
6 May 2020 - RCOA Summary of April 2020 Working Group on Resettlement Briefing on Covid-19.
14 May 2020 - Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 - then referred to Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for Inquiry (report due 5 Aug 2020) - also see Bills Digest. Bill was not passed in the Senate after opposition by Senator Jacqui Lambie (who held the deciding vote) in Oct 2020.
18 May 2020 - ANAO Audit - Procurement of Garrison Support and Welfare Services - noting a cost to date of $7.1 billion dollars for regional processing arrangements.
21 May 2020 - 35 refugees leave Manus, and 7 people from the offshore cohort depart from Australia for the US - see media.
3 Jun 2020 - UNHCR Policy Brief - Covid-19 and People on the Move - also see commentary by Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.
11 Jun 2020 - a further 28 refugees leave Manus and Nauru for the US - see media reporting.
18 Jun 2020 - UNHCR and IOM announce resumption of resettlement travel for refugees .
18 Jul 2020 - death of 36 yr old Tamil man by suicide
4 Aug 2020 - DHA announces Christmas Island detention centre will be reopened (taking up to 250 people for 6m, at a cost of $55M - initially those in YHIDC in WA allowing transfers of people in detention in Victoria and NSW to YHIDC) - see media.
10 Aug 2020 - death of Daniel Harvey in detention in Melbourne (MITA), 46 yr old from New Zealand - see media.
31 Aug 2020 - 822 refugees (378 from Nauru, 377 from PNG and 67 medical transfers (from Australia)) have resettled in the US, with 180 people left in Nauru and 170 in PNG - DHA statistics.
2 Sep 2020 - Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 passes the lower House. Subsequent media (2 Oct. 2020) indicated Sen Jacquie Lambie would not support the Bill in the Senate, and the Bill did not pass.
21 Sep 2020 - DHA start transitioning individuals in community detention who have not engaged in the US resettlement process on to final departure BVE in Qld, NSW and SA. Process in Victoria amended due to coronavirus situation, with different provisions for families.
Sep 2020 - at least 24 refugees transferred from Nauru to Australia for medical care - see media reporting.
6 Oct 2020 - Federal Budget - announcements on 2020-21 Humanitarian intake reducing to 13,750 people again. Other measures include reduction in funding for asylum seeker supports (to < $20M - previously around $140M in 2017-18); allocation of $1.19B to offshore processing and $55M to fund the Christmas Island detention centre.
19 Oct 2020 - Senate Estimates - Legal and Constitutional Affairs - DHA - see Hansard and report. Relevant numbers:
870 individuals resettled in the US - from Manus (405), Nauru (387) and cohorts transferred to Australia (78); with a further 260 individuals approved to resettle (20 from PNG, 30 from Nauru and 220 from Australia).
1226 people in Australia who had been sent to Nauru/PNG.
Returns and assisted voluntary returns - 644 from PNG and 111 from Nauru since 2012.
145 people remaining in Nauru (107 refugees, 23 in an ongoing RSD process and 16 with negative decision) and 145 men remaining in Manus (101 refugees and 44 with negative decision).
19 Nov 2020 - cost of bringing a migration case to the Federal Circuit Court increased (from $690 to $3330) - see media.
25 Nov 2020 - Secretary Michael Pezzullo - speech to Institute for Public Administration Australia on Social Cohesion.
2 Dec 2020 - High Court ruling supporting the C^th Government's appeal in 4 cases in asylum seeker children alleging that the C^th breached a duty of care in relation to medical services in offshore detention. The High Court held unanimously that the Migration Act (1958) does not take away the jurisdiction of other courts (Federal and State Courts) to hear such proceedings.
3 Dec 2020 - Australian Human Rights Commission report: Inspections of Australia's immigration detention facilities 2019 report - also DHA response.
10 Dec 2020 - Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill 2020 introduced
12 Dec 2020 - first refugees transferred under Medevac released from APODs - see media reporting.
12 Dec 2020 - death of Muhammad Hafizuddin bin Zaini in VIDC - see media.
17 Dec 2020 - more than 60 men in detention in the Mantra hotel in Preston transferred to another hotel in Carlton, Melbourne - see media.
22 Dec 2020 - Alex Hawke replaces Alan Tudge (A/g for David Coleman) as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.
Dec 2020 - escalating conflict in the Tigray region - see summary

2021

1 Feb 2021 - Military coup d'etat in Myanmar - federal government subsequently announces visa extension for Myanmar nationals in May 2021.
4 Feb 2021 - Migration and Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Information Provisions) Bill 2020 referred to to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry
16 Feb 2021 - Federal Court upholds its previous decision related to youngest child in Biloela family - see media.
22 Feb 2021 - Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2021 introduced (private, Wilkie).
1 Mar 2021 - Medevac refugees released from APODs in Brisbane, Darwin and Sydney - see media.
Mar 2021 - Report on the findings of the Review of the Community Support Program.
Mar 2021 - Dr Deon Gouws appointed as Chief Medical Officer DHA (leaves Oct 2022)
22 Mar 2021- Senate Estimates - As of 14 Mar 2021 - 110 people remain on Nauru and 130 men in PNG, 929 individuals already resettled in the US - from Nauru (391) PNG (419) and cohorts transferred to Australia (119). Further 265 people provisionally approved to resettle (15 Nauru, 10 PNG, 240 from Australia), and 1223 'transitory persons' in Australia
30 Mar 2021 - Karen Andrews becomes the Minister for Home Affairs, with Peter Dutton moving to the Defence portfolio.
4 May 2021 - Federal Court judgment with relevance to individuals who arrived on Ashmore Reef and were granted a Temporary Safe Haven visa - see ARHC summary
5 May 2021 - Minister Alex Hawke announces visa extension for Myanmar nationals after the military coup d'etat in Feb 2021 - see release and media.
6 May 2021 - PM Scott Morrison secretly appointed to become joint Minister for Home Affairs, reported to be without the knowledge of the Minister for Home Affairs (Karen Andrews) - this information did not emerge publicly until 15 Aug 2022. See media.
11 May 2021 - Federal Budget, also see Home Affairs Portfolio Budget statement and UNSW summary of the impact on refugees.
12 May 2021 - Migration Amendment (Tabling Notice of Certain Character Decisions) Bill 2021 introduced.
21 May 2021 - media reporting on Canadian sponsorship for 144 people in Nauru, PNG or onshore detention and their family members.
24 May 2021 - Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Bill 2021 passes the Senate - also see Kaldor Centre analysis.
24-25 May 2021 - Senate Estimates - As of 30 Apr 2021 - 109 people remain on Nauru and 130 men in PNG, 940 individuals already resettled in the US - from Nauru (394) PNG (418) and cohorts transferred to Australia (128). Further 200 people approved for travel and another 260 people provisionally approved to resettle (15 Nauru, 10 PNG, 235 from Australia) - total therefore 1400 people.
May 2021 - Report: Findings of the Review of the Community Support Program.
23 Jun 2021 - Biloela family members granted 3m bridging visas - see Minister's statement.
Jul 2021 - Canstruct contract for services in Nauru extended until end 2021 - see media.
19 Jul 2021 - UNHCR statement on Australia implementing 8 years of offshore detention.
15 Aug 2021 - Kabul falls to the Taliban - see timeline of preceding events.
17 Aug 2021 - Minister Hawke announces no Afghan visa older will be asked to return to Afghanistan while the security situation remains dire.
18 Aug 2021 - Minister Hawke announces 3000 humanitarian places for Afghan refugees within the Humanitarian program (of 13,750 places).
20 Aug 2021 - death of Tamil asylum seeker Koneshwaran Krishnapillai (suicide) in Melbourne - see media.
25 Aug 2021 - sudden release of 33 refugees from APODs in Darwin, Melbourne and Brisbane - see media.
30 Aug 2021 - Australia announces an Advisory Panel on Australia's Resettlement of Afghan Nationals.
31 Aug 2021 - more than 120,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan in the 10 days to 31 Aug 2021 - see media.
Australia evacuated 4100 Afghans (see PM press conference and media), and has allocated 3000 places from the existing humanitarian intake.
Multiple agencies have urged an additional (and higher) number of places for Afghan refugees - see Refugee Council of Australia.
A large proportion of Afghan arrivals travelled on Temporary Humanitarian Stay (449) visas - arrangements made for this visa to access Medicare as of 16 Sep 2021
23 Sep 2021 - Biloela Tamil family members granted 12m bridging visas - see media.
24 Sep 2021 - Australia signs an agreement with Nauru to enable ongoing offshore processing (see Minister's media release and media).
24 Sep 2021 - release of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Annual Report 2020-21 - with more than 32,000 refugee cases on hand at year end.
30 Sep 2021 - Release of DHA Annual Report - 4 deaths and 195 self-harm events in immigration detention in 2020-21 - see media.
6 Oct 2021 – announcement that offshore processing in PNG will end by end 2021 - see media.
14 Oct 2021 - Minister Hawke announces $27 million support for Afghans and confirms Afghan refugees on temporary visas will transition to permanent visas.
24 Oct 2021 - close to half (20/46) asylum seekers in Park hotel test + for covid 19 – see media.
1 Nov 2021 - Qld Coroners findings into the death of Omid Masoumali in Apr 2016 on Nauru.
24 Nov 2021 - Introduction of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021 – strengthening the character test in s501 of the Migration Act (progressed to the Senate 30 Mar 2022, lapsed at the end of Parliament 25 Jul 2022) also see media commentary (Feb 2022).
24 Nov 2021 - Introduction of the Migration Amendment (Protecting Migrant Workers) Bill 2021, lapsed at dissolution 11 Apr 2022.
Dec 2021 - as of 31/12/21 there were 7186 invitations for 449 visas for Afghan refugees, 6043 granted, and 4810 who had arrived in Australia - as reported in Mar 2022 Senate Estimates
9 Dec 2021 - Kaldor Policy brief on airport asylum processes, also examining process before/during Covid-19.
2022
Jan 2022 - Minister Hawke announced a further allocation of 15,000 places within the existing humanitarian and family visa programs over the next 4 years
Senate Estimates 31/3/22 confirms 10,000 humanitarian places, 5000 in the 2021-22 program year (including those 3000 initial arrivals), 5000 in future years and 5000 family places (with a total of 31,500 humanitarian places for Afghan refugees).
6 Jan 2022 - Tennis player Novak Djokovic arrives for the Australian Open, and is then detained in the Park Hotel APOD after his visa was cancelled in relation to his covid vaccination. status - attracting international media attention to Australia APODs and drawing attention to Australian detention - see media.
20 Jan 2022 - 4-year deadline for Australia to implement OPCAT commitments, including embedding a coordinated independent inspection system for places of detention.
24 Feb 2022 - Russia invades Ukraine from the north (Belarus), east (Donetsk and Luhansk regions) and south (Crimea). More than a million people left Ukraine within the first week of the conflict, and by 15 Mar 2022 (19 days later), more than 3 million people had fled.
28 Feb 2022 - Tasmanian Coronial findings into death of Saeed Hassanloo (in Aug 2016).
28 Feb 2022 - there were 7186 invitations for 449 visas for Afghan refugees, 6786 granted, and 5407 who had arrived in Australia - as reported in Mar 2022 Senate Estimates.
Mar 2022 - Ukrainian refugees start arriving in Australia, predominantly women and children.
3 Mar 2022 - more than 1000 visas issued to Ukrainians - see media.
11 Mar 2022 - more than 3000 visas issues to Ukrainian nationals and announcement of automatic 6m extension to all Ukrainian nationals with visas due to expire 30 Jun 2022.
Mar 2022 - revision of the Kaldor Centre Principles for Australian Refugee Policy
11 Mar 2022 - 13 detainees released from APODs, including 9 from Melbourne’s Park Hotel – see media.
20 Mar 2022 -federal government announces temporary humanitarian visas for Ukrainian refugees (two-step process which involves issuing a Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (subclass 449) visa followed by the 786 visa (3-years duration), with work rights, Medicare and education access. Offer subsequently ended 14 Jul 2022 (extended 2 weeks to 31 Jul 2022).
24 Mar 2022 - Australia accepts New Zealand’s offer of 150 places annually for refugee resettlement - see media.
26 Mar 2022 -Death of 35 yr old Kurdish man by suicide in VIDC – see media.
29 Mar 2022 - federal budget allocated an additional humanitarian intake (above the existing humanitarian intake) of 16,500 Afghan refugees over 4 years (funding of $666 million), expected at 4125/year for 4 years.
31 Mar 2022 – Senate Estimates
Outline of plans for a contingent facility in Nauru with baseline capability in case of boat arrivals, including for children. Plans described as ‘open ended’, estimated to be around $530M/year
110 boat arrivals remain on Nauru, 993 people resettled in the US as of 31 Jan 2022
150 places for settlement in NZ (on top of normal resettlement program) to cover people in Nauru, or those in Australia for medical purposes, program administration through UNHCR, and funding through NZ
Between 23/2 – 28/3/22 – 5474 non-humanitarian visas issued to people from Ukraine, of which 1329 had arrived (total 1784 arrivals) - another 641 applications on hand from people inside Ukraine.
MYEFO included $8M for Afghan community agencies to support new arrivals and $7.9M over 2 years for torture-trauma counselling.
31 Mar 2022 – media reporting that only 1 person has transitioned from a SHEV visa to a permanent visa.
1 Apr 2022 – further 20 men released from the Park Hotel where they had been held in detention – see media.
4-5 Apr 2022 – Senate Estimates.
7 Apr 2022 – Last 8 asylum seekers released from the Park Hotel – see media.
26 Apr 2022 – WA Court of Appeal overturns convictions of Indonesian minors for people smuggling in 2009 – see decision and media.
26 Apr 2022 – RCOA releases a comparison of major party refugee policies for the upcoming federal election.
2 May 2022 – Cache of emails from Nauru Police Force released on hacking website – see media.
3 May 2022 – Victorian State Budget - includes: 5.7M over 1y for improving health outcomes for refugees and people seeking asylum, 6.7M over 2y for improving settlement outcomes for humanitarian cohorts and emerging migrant communities, 3.7M over 1y for Covid-19 support and recovery for multicultural communities
21 May 2022 – Federal election – news and texts of interception of a Sri Lankan asylum seeker boat - subsequent DHA report confirms instructions from PM office – see media.
Labour policy platform:
‘Aspire’ to increase to humanitarian intake – to 27,000 places/year.
Progressive increase to the community sponsored refugee program to 5000 places/year (in addition to the humanitarian program).
Abolish TPV and SHEV and transition eligible refugees onto PR.
Humane and risk based detention policies, independent oversight of detention facilities, aiming to limit mandatory detention to 90 days, and reintroduction of the 90-day rule into the Migration Act.
Appointment of an independent children’s advocate to represent the interests of children seeking asylum.
Free legal advice, English language classes and means tested social supports for asylum seekers.
Reintroduce references to the Refugee Convention into the Migration Act.
Reinstate the Refugee Review Tribunal, abolish the ‘Fast Track’ process and Immigration Assessment Authority, improve and streamline processing of protection claims.
Maintain offshore processing and maintain boat turnbacks where safe to do so.
Humanitarian and protection leadership in SE Asia, including building a regional framework and attention to the situation of asylum seekers in Indonesia.
Increasing UNHCR funding.
Appointment of a Special Envoy for Refugee and Asylum Seeker issues.
31 May 2022 – New Ministry announced - Clare O’Neil becomes the new Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security – replacing Peter Dutton, who becomes leader of the opposition. Andrew Giles becomes the new Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
31 May 2022 – Immigration detention statistics - average duration of detention reaches 736 days, with 35.4% of the detained population detained for 2 years or longer (as of Sep 2022 - remain the most recent stats).
May 2022 - feedback due for Next Steps discussion paper, arising from earlier Shergold review (2019).
10 Jun 2022 – Nadesalingam family return to Biloela – see media.
13 Jun 2022 - Australia has now granted more than 8000 visas for people from Ukraine. As of 13 Jun 2022, around 3200 Ukrainian nationals have arrived in Australia (900 to Victoria).
16 Jun 2022 – death of a 32 yr old man Gokhan Kan in riots at Yongah Hill immigration Centre – see media.
Jun 2022 - DH Circular - Displaced Ukrainian nationals in Victoria without Medicare - interim guidance - free hospital care for this cohort.
20 Jun 2022 – Fatima Payman confirmed as winning the final Senate seat in WA - becoming the first Afghan-Australian and first hijab-wearing Muslim woman in parliament – see media.
8 Jul 2022 – Signals of shift in s501 cancellations for NZ born long-term Australian residents – announcements in press conference w PM Anthony Albanese and NZ PM Jacinta Ardern.
14 Jul 2022 - Australian Government offer of a 3-year Temporary Humanitarian Stay for Ukrainian nationals due to expire, extended to 31 Jul 2022 - see media, and DHA website.
19 Jul 2022 – Court case challenging detention in APODs - see media.
19 Jul 2022 – exponential spread of covid in Nauru since Apr 2022 – reaching nearly 7000 cases.
Jul 2022 – Comparative Network on the Externalisation of Refugee Policies (CONREP) a Policy paper on the health impacts of Australia’s immigration detention.
1 Aug 2022 – Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie reintroduces the Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2022 - see media.
5 Aug 2022 – Biloela family granted permanent visas – see media.
Aug 2022 – numbers from RCOA:
19,345 refugees on TPV/SHEV, 1190 waiting for primary decision, 987 seeking review of negative decision, 9731 negative decision
Offshore numbers - 3127 people sent offshore between Jul 2013-early 2014. 1056 resettled, 1006 to US, remainder to Canada and Europe. More than 750 returned to country of origin, 15 died, 251 children born to this cohort since arrival. 1384 remain, 112 in Nauru, 104 in PNG, 1168 transferred to Australia for medical care. Resettlement options available – 230 provisional approvals for US settlement, 450 NZ (150/year to Jun 2025), 159 applications to Canada – via Operation Not Forgotten
15 Aug 2022 - News emerges of former PM Scott Morrison having been secretly appointed to additional ministries - initial reports of 3 portfolios - Health (14 Mar 2020), Finance (30 Mar 2020) and Industry/Science/Energy/Resources (15 Apr 2021).
16 Aug 2022 - further news of former PM Scott Morrison also having been secretly appointed to Home Affairs (6 May 2021) and Treasury (6 May 2021) - see Instruments of appointment, media and subsequent Solicitor General Advice (23 Aug 2022).
16 Aug 2022 - 2022-23 Migration program planning levels released (intake 160,000 places, also provides state breakdown) - intake subsequently increased to 190,000 annually as of 2 Sep 2022.
16 Aug 2022 - Canstruct loses Nauru offshore processing contracts, with plan to transition services to Management and Training Corporation (MTC) Australia from 1 Oct (MTC being a US prisons private provider).
25 Aug 2022 - Minister Andrew Giles speech at Sydney Policy Lab on the Administration of Australian Immigration.
Aug 2022 - release of the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian immigration detention facilities (2nd ed).
2 Sep 2022 - announcement of increases to skilled migration program with total permanent migration intake expected to rise to 195,000 people/year - see media.
10 Oct 2022 - Stephanie Foster PSM commences as Associate Secretary Immigration - see media.
Oct 2022 - Dr Deon Gouws finishes as Chief Medical Officer to DHA
7 Nov 2022 - Clare O'Neil announces Migration Program Inquiry - panel Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Dr Joanna Howe and John Azarias - see DHA background, media release, and media.
22 Nov 2022 - first group of 6 refugees arrive in New Zealand from Nauru - see media.
22 Dec 2022 - Federal Court ruling on case [2022] FCAFC 203 - that aggregate sentences should not trigger automatic visa cancellations - see media. Around 100 people released from detention during Christmas period. Subsequent Bill to re-institute stricter interpretation of the Character test in early 2023, with intended outcome of re-detention (see media).
End 2022 - media reporting (in Nov 2023) that Labour government returned almost 200 asylum seekers on 7 boats between May-Dec 2022.
2023
29 Jan 2023 - death of Iraqi refugee in Villawood, detained 5 years - see media.
Jan 2023 - Minister Claire O'Neil appoints former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Christine Nixon AO, APM to undertake a 'Rapid review into the exploitation of Australia's visa system (the Nixon review) - released 31 Mar 2023.
1 Feb 2023 - softening of Australia's position on New Zealand deportations under s501 of the Migration Act - considering length of time in Australia in decision making - see media.
6 Feb 2023 - Labour moves to renew the instrument of designation for the regional processing centre to continue on Nauru - with news emerging that the original authorisation lapsed in Oct 2022 (after 10 years) and was notified to Minister O'Neil on 15 Dec 2022 - see media.
7 Feb 2023 - Behrouz Boochani makes a speech in parliament house in Canberra - see media.
10 Feb 2023 - Replacement of Ministerial Directions 80 and 83, effectively providing a pathway for boat arrivals on permanent visas to sponsor family (previously Direction 80 meant boat arrivals were considered lowest priority for family sponsorship).
12 Feb 2023 - announcement that people on a TPV or SHEV will be able to apply for a Resolution of Status (851) visa (RoS) - see media.
On-hand/at review applications (i.e. primary protection application) - automatically converted to RoS.
People already on TPV/SHEV - vulnerable/priority - no waiting time, remainder - invited to apply, staged process expected to take 12 months. No repeat protection assessment, most no interview, uses prior health checks and DHA will organise background police check.
TPV/SHEV cancelled or negative decision at all stages - expected to leave.
Waiting for merits/judicial review - complete process and if positive protection decision - RoS process becomes available.
13 Feb 2023 - Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2023 - in response to the Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs case [2022] FCAFC 203
Feb 2023 - Bali process discussions held in South Australia - see media.
21 Mar 2023 - Review of the Migration System report, see media summary key changes.
30 Mar 2023 - changes to the Migration Regulations (1994) - around family violence provisions
31 Mar 2023 - Nixon report released - see government response (4 Oct 2023).
12 Apr 2023 - High Court case - Davis v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2023) - ruling that DHA cannot set policy limiting section 351 of the Migration Act (1958) - i.e. limit section 351 Ministerial intervention requests. See media.
19 Apr 2023 - PM Anthony Albanese and Minister Andrew Giles meet with UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi - see press release.
27 Apr 2023 - Minister Claire O'Neil National Press Club address
28 Apr 2023 - Independent review of Overseas Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings - Interim Report.
8 May 2023 - Boat of 35 Sri Lankan asylum seekers intercepted and taken to Christmas Island (see media).
18 May 2023 - Minister Giles announces $136M over 4 years and $36M/year ongoing for torture trauma services.
23 May 2023 - Senate estimates figures outline a cost of $485M for offshore processing on Nauru ($350M/year ongoing as contingency) with only 22 people remaining in regional processing arrangements at the time (see media).
25 May 2023 - Minister Giles announces the establishment of a Settlement Advisory Council.
1 Jun 2023 - release of the independent review by Dr Vivienne Thom AM of the Afghan Locally Engaged Employee (LEE) Program.
20 Jun 2023 - RACGP position statement - Healthcare for refugees and people seeking asylum.
21 Jun 2023 - release of AHRC report: The use of hotels as alternative places of detention.
24 Jun 2023 - last refugee transferred off Nauru - see media.
30 Jun 2023 - death of a male detainee at Villawood - see ABF release and media.
Jul 2023 - updates to Immigration Medical Examinations for offshore humanitarian entrants - see Panel Member Instructions (and Sep 2023 - Departure Health Check supporting material)
28 Jul 2023 - Minister Giles announces additional funds to enable a payrise for settlement workers.
31 Jul 2023 - Minister O'Neil announces an investigation into concerns raised around offshore detention contracts - see media.
11 Aug 2023 - Minister Giles announces Australia's humanitarian intake will increase from 17,875 to 20,000 per year.
17 Aug 2023 - ALP national conference - positions to decide protection applications within 90d and ensure work and study rights while claims are addressed, increase community sponsored places from 5000-10,000 per year, abolish TPV, initiate an inquiry into offshore detention and establish a special envoy for refugees.
Sep 2023 - updates to Departure Health Checks for humanitarian entrants, including presumptive parasite treatment, extended immunisation protocols, and improved consideration of pregnancy status.
Sep 2023 - Boat intercepted with 11 Tamil asylum seekers - who were then transferred to Nauru 7 Sep 2023 - see media. Media (22 Jan 2024) confirms 8/11 returned to country of origin.
13 Sep 2023 - AAT decision facilitating compensation to people involved in the 2014 data breach.
15 Sep 2023 - additional AAT members appointed.
25 Sep 2023 - DHA Secretary Mike Pezzullo stands aside during an investigation into text messages - see media.
3 Oct 2023 - Pakistan announces plans to repatriate more than 1M undocumented migrants, predominantly Afghans - see DHA and DFAT information.
4 Oct 2023 - Minister Giles announces $50M for a new DHA compliance division in response to the Nixon review.
4 Oct 2023 - media reporting that Christmas Island IDC once again empty with last detainees transferred to mainland.
5 Oct 2023 - Ministers Giles, O'Neil and Dreyfus announce $160M of reforms to the Australian refugee protection system - including $54M for real-time priority processing of protection applications, $58M to the AAT and Federal Circuit Court, and $48M for legal assistance. In total, an additional 93 members have been appointed to the AAT. See media summary.
7 Oct 2023 - Hamas commits terrorist acts against Israel.
14 Oct 2023 - Australia announces $10M humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by conflict in Gaza.
16 Oct 2023 - new Refugee and Humanitarian Entrant Settlement and Integration Outcomes Framework announced by Minister Giles
17 Oct 2023 - Australia announces $500K support for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.
23 Oct 2023 - PNG indicates plans to resolve the status of the 64 remaining refugees/non refugees from Australian offshore processing - see media.
26 Oct 2023 - Australia announces an additional $15M in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza.
27 Oct 2023 - Israel launches ground invasion of Gaza.
3 Nov 2023 - Save the Children vs Minister for Home Affairs - Federal Court holds that Australia is not obliged to repatriate Australian women and children associated with Islamic State.
3 Nov 2023 - DIZ18 vs Minister for Home Affairs - Federal Court approves prior settlement in the case of child claiming alleged breach of duty of care in Nauru. See media.
8 Nov 2023 -High Court ruling that indefinite detention is illegal - see decision (released 28 Nov 2023) and summary article. In total, 148 people were released. By 9 Dec 2023, 6 had been rearrested (media), with further AFP reports on 26 Jan 2024 and 30 Jan 2024.
9 Nov 2023 - Dr Grant Pegg appointed as Chief Medical Officer for DHA.
10 Nov 2023 - PM Albanese announces an agreement with Tuvalu allowing 280 people/year a special mobility pathway to Australian settlement, acknowledging the impact of climate change - see media.
16 Nov 2023 - Migration Amendment (Bridging Visa Conditions) Bill 2023 - assent 17 Nov 2023.
17 Nov 2023 - Request for Information for the Humanitarian Integration and Settlement Program - see AusTender
23 Nov 2023 - 12 asylum seekers reach WA coast and are flown to Nauru - see media.
23 Nov 2023 - media reporting that Australia has issued 1793 visas to Israeli citizens and 860 to Palestinians in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
27 Nov 2023 - Migration and Other Legislation Amendment (Bridging Visas, Serious Offenders and Other Measures) Bill 2023 introduced - assent 7 Dec 2023, allowing the Minister to apply to court to re-detain non-citizens released from detention if: i) they have previously convicted of crimes with sentences 7 years or longer, and ii) the court agrees they present an unacceptable risk of committing a serious violent or sexual offence, and less restrictive mitigations are not available. AHRC refers for Parliamentary review. See APH summary, Bills digest and media summary. Subsequent high Court challenges from Refugee Legal (see media) and ASRC.
27 Nov 2023 - Migration Amendment (Limits on Immigration Detention) Bill 2023 introduced (also prohibits child detention, remains before House) - see media.
27 Nov 2023 - Mike Pezullo stood down as Secretary of DHA - see PM statement and media,
28 Nov 2023 - Stephanie Foster PSM appointed as Secretary of DHA.
30 Nov 2023 - applications for the Afghan Locally Engaged Employee (LEE) program close - see DHA
11 Dec 2023 - Migration strategy released - see media release.
16 Dec 2023 - Australia announces $265M in support for refugees at the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum.
19 Dec 2023 - Inaugural Ministerial migration roundtable - see communique
20 Dec 2023 - DH circular - Free public healthcare in Victoria for people fleeing the Israel Palestine conflict.
22 Dec 2023 - Federal Court approves a $27.5M settlement for Indonesians who were imprisoned as children for people smuggling offences (see media).
2024
16 Jan 2024 - Australia announces an additional $21.5M in humanitarian assistance in the Middle East.
27 Jan 2024 - Australia pauses funding for UNRWA - see media.
Resources

Asylum seeker statistics (ASRC)
Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Parliamentary Library: Asylum seekers and refugees: what are the facts? (2015) - include plane arrival numbers
Australian Parliamentary Library: Australia and refugees, 1901 - 2002: an annotated chronology based on official sources
Australian Parliamentary Library: Australia’s offshore processing of asylum seekers in Nauru and PNG: a quick guide to the statistics and resources (Jun 2016)
Australian Parliamentary Library: Immigration (including refugees, asylum seekers and detention)
Australian Parliamentary Library: Multiculturalism: a review of Australian policy statements and recent debates in Australia and overseas (2010) - includes links to historical multiculturalism documents
Australian Policy on-line - Australia's Humanitarian Program - a quick guide to the statistics since 1947 (2015)
Beyond the Boats (2014, Kaldor Centre roundtable)
Department of Home Affairs - Freedom of Information disclosure logs
Houston report (2012)
Department of Home Affairs - Immigration history resources, including A History of the Department of Immigration
Department of Home Affairs - 2019-2020 Humanitarian programme discussion paper
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection: media releases Peter Dutton and David Coleman, previous Ministerial media releases (Pandora)
RCOA statistics - including offshore processing - composite figures
Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Social Security Law (DSS - includes entitlements by visa type)
UNHCR Country Chapters - Australia (2018)
VAGO: Access to Services for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

_{Immigrant health service resources. Author: Georgie Paxton, Updated Feb 2023. Contact: georgia.paxton@rch.org.au}