Kaldor Centre Unsw

24 July 2015 - This symposium brought together academics, legal centres and social justice organisations to review existing literature on public attitudes to refugees. Participants discussed research on public opinion, discourse and framing in relation to both refugee issues and other contentious policy areas, to generate comparative insights. Organised by the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law in conjunction with the Migration Law Program (ANU) and the Centre for Refugee Research (UNSW). Session 2: What are we learning? Chair: Marianne Dickie, Director of the Migration Law Program, ANU Common Cause: why values matter Mark Chenery, Co-founder of Common Cause Australia The refugee story: steps to a progressive narrative Alex Frankel, Director, Frankly Research and Communications Discussion session about experiences within the sector - beginning with a short presentation by Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis, Community Organiser: Asylum Seekers, Sydney Alliance

24 July 2015 - This symposium brought together academics, legal centres and social justice organisations to review existing literature on public attitudes to refugees. Participants discussed research on public opinion, discourse and framing in relation to both refugee issues and other contentious policy areas, to generate comparative insights. Organised by the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law in conjunction with the Migration Law Program (ANU) and the Centre for Refugee Research (UNSW). Session 1: What do we know about international, national and regional attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers? Chair: Harriet McHugh-Dillon, author of the 2015 Foundation House review ‘If they are genuine refugees, why? Public attitudes to unauthorised arrivals in Australia’ Attitudes towards asylum seekers and refugees: Some international reflections Dr Lisa Hartley, Lecturer, Centre for Human Rights Education, Curtin University International media representation of Australia’s refugee and asylum policy Han

30 April 2015 - A public lecture by Tom Porteous, Deputy Program Director, Human Rights Watch. Mr Porteous discussed contemporary responses to the global refugee crisis and challenges to refugee protection in the current context.

4 November 2014 - The Nansen Initiative on Disaster-Induced Cross-Border Displacement aims to build consensus on the development of a protection agenda addressing the needs of people displaced across borders in the context of disasters and climate change. The Nansen Initiative’s work plan focuses on three types of movement – displacement, migration and planned relocation. The panel examined each of these kinds of movement to identify how, why and when people may move in response to disasters and the impacts of climate change, and what legal and policy frameworks are needed to support such movement. Speakers: Professor Walter Kälin Envoy of the Chairmanship of The Nansen Initiative and Professor of Law, University of Berne Bruce Burson Independent expert and member of The Nansen Initiative Consultative Committee Professor Jane McAdam Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW and member of The Nansen Initiative Consultative Committee

17 June 2015 - A panel discussion on Australian legal sector responses to changes in asylum seeker policy and funding. This event, co-hosted with the Refugee Advice & Casework Services (RACS), provided a brief overview of some of the most significant changes affecting people seeking asylum in Australia, and a discussion of how various actors in the legal sector are responding, including through innovative approaches to advice and casework, and challenges before the courts. The event was introduced by Renata Kaldor, AO, Refugee Week Ambassador. Panel members: Jemma Hollonds, Senior Solicitor, Refugee Advice and Casework Service Michelle Hannon, Partner, Pro Bono Services & Corporate Responsibility, Gilbert + Tobin David Hume, Barrister, Six Wentworth Selborne Chambers

23 April 2015 - The Australian Human Rights Commission’s 'Forgotten Children' report on children in immigration detention caused considerable controversy, and offers a rare insight into life inside Australia’s detention centres. At this seminar, Jennifer Whelan and Madeline Gleeson spoke about the key findings of the report and some of the questions it raises. Jennifer Whelan is Senior Lecturer at UNSW Law, a human rights and anti-discrimination lawyer, a project director at the Australian Human Rights Centre and a member of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. Madeline Gleeson is a Research Associate at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.

Kaldor Centre Director, Professor Jane McAdam, and Fiona Chong’s new book 'Refugees: Why Seeking Asylum Is Legal and Australia’s Policies Are Not' (UNSW Press, 2014) was launched on 4 September 2015. Admiral Chris Barrie AC, the former Chief of Defence in Australia at the time of the 2001 'Children Overboard' affair, spoke at the launch. The book rejects spin and panic to provide a straightforward and balanced account of Australia’s asylum policies in light of international law. Written for a general audience, it explains who asylum seekers and refugees are, what the law is, and what policies like offshore processing, mandatory detention, and turning back boats mean in practice. Using real-life examples, this book reminds us about the human impact of Australia’s policies. Refugees has been shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

22 July 2014 - An expert panel on the High Court case involving 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers held by an Australian customs vessel on the high seas (later handed down as CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 1). The case raises questions of international law, constitutional law, and administrative law, all of which were the subject of the discussion. Panel members: Professor Jane McAdam, Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law Professor George Williams, UNSW Associate Professor Tim Stephens, University of Sydney Ed Santow, CEO, Public Interest Advocacy Centre The event was kindly hosted by Gilbert + Tobin and chaired by partner Steven Glass.