Providing permanent protection to refugees in Australia: Real change or window dressing?

This article argues that the recent changes to Australia's rolling temporary protection regime do not mark a shift away from Australia's flawed and unjust asylum system for two key reasons. First, the government did not repeal the temporary protection regime nor the fast track process. Secondly, the changes mobilise and perpetuate the inherent hostility of Australia's asylum seeker policies targeting 'irregular arrivals'. This article offers a critical analysis of the design and operation of Australia's asylum system, as well as an examination of the 2023 changes and the political and journalistic discourse surrounding their announcement.

Automated summary

This article offers a critical analysis of Australia's asylum system, highlighting that recent changes to the temporary protection regime do not address the flaws and injustices of the system. The government has not repealed the temporary protection regime or the fast track process, and the changes only perpetuate hostility towards 'irregular arrivals'.