Refugee organisations have slammed the Albanese Government for making yet another secret deal with Nauru, this time paving the way for mass deportations at a cost to the taxpayer of nearly half a billion dollars initially as well as another $70 million every year.

Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS) has announced Miles Franklin Award -winning author, Shankari Chandran, as its newest Ambassador.

“With her background in law and the values embedded in her stories of refugees and migrants to Australia, Shankari is a great ambassador for RACS and our mission,” said RACS Centre Director & Principal Solicitor, Sarah Dale.

A stateless refugee facing removal to Nauru, being supported by the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS) and pro bono lawyers commenced proceedings seeking to remain in Australia whilst the Court considers whether the cancellation of his visa was lawful. The Courts have upheld his right to do so and he will no longer face imminent removal to Nauru.

Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS) welcomes a landmark decision from the UN Human Rights Committee, which found Australia violated the human rights of a group of refugee children. The decision comes nine years after RACS lodged a complaint on behalf of a group of unaccompanied children who were arbitrarily detained on Nauru.

We are deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks in media and political commentary on Ministerial Direction 99 and independent decision-making in character matters by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. These attacks are misleading and discriminatory and threaten the rule of law.

RACS is deeply concerned about the legislation rushed through Federal Parliament yesterday, in response to last week’s High Court ruling in NZYQ that indefinite detention is unconstitutional.