Kaldor Centre calls for stronger, fairer humanitarian program in new submission

The submission responds to the Department of Home Affairs Discussion Paper on Australia’s Humanitarian Program for 2026–27, setting out a series of principled, evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving fairness, effectiveness and protection for people fleeing conflict and persecution.

At its core is a call to refocus the program on those with the greatest need. The Kaldor Centre recommends that Australia prioritise refugees facing the most acute risks, including through referrals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and community-led referrals.

The submission also highlights structural changes that could significantly expand Australia’s impact. In particular, it proposes ‘unlinking’ the onshore and offshore components of the humanitarian program – a move that could unlock additional resettlement places without increasing the overall program cap.

Other key recommendations include:

• lifting the long-standing ban on resettling refugees from Indonesia;
• expanding safe visa pathways that are additional to the resettlement program; and
• removing restrictions that prevent some refugees in Australia from sponsoring family members, especially where children are separated from their parents.

The Centre also calls for forward-looking reforms to meet emerging global challenges. These include:

• making permanent a skilled migration pathway for refugees to help address labour shortages, particularly in regional Australia, and
• introducing a new emergency visa to enable faster, more consistent responses during humanitarian crises.

With global displacement at record levels, the Centre’s submission provides a timely roadmap for how Australia can respond in a principled and practical way, balancing compassion with long-term policy effectiveness.

Read the full submission.

For more, visit the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.