20/10/2026
Last week, we brought together Australia’s Rohingya community, our colleagues from the refugee and humanitarian sector, the Parliamentary Friends of Refugees Group and other parliamentarians to discuss the ongoing Rohingya crisis and the importance of safeguarding the protection focus of Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program.
Group Co-Chair Sarah Witty MP spoke passionately about the importance of Australia’s ongoing commitment to addressing the Rohingya crisis. Ms Witty’s words were echoed by her fellow co-chairs Allegra Spender, Senator Paul Scarr and Senator David Shoebridge. All four also spoke to Australia’s legacy as a multicultural nation, condemning the anti-migrant narratives that have lately pervaded Australia’s media and political sphere.
UNHCR’s Soo-Jin Rhee highlighted dwindling international support in the face of increasing global humanitarian need, stressing the importance of ensuring that the protection function of Australia’s humanitarian program is maintained and strengthened. She reiterated that Australia’s complementary pathways should indeed be complementary, rather than cut into established protection pathways for vulnerable groups such as women at risk or those at risk of detention or forcible return.
Also speaking at the event were Torrhey Burbage (IOM), Craig Foster, Hafsar Tameesuddin, Carmen Ghaly (SSI), Zaki Haidari (Amnesty International Australia), Robi Alam (Rohingya United Youth Network), Arunn Jegan (Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF), Dr Graham Thom (RCOA) and Adama Kamara (RCOA).
SSI - Settlement Services International Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
