Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2025–26
Submission Date: 19 August 2025
The Law Council of Australia provided a submission Department of Home Affairs (Department) in response to its Discussion Paper—Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2025–26 (Discussion Paper).
The Law Council welcomes the overall vision set out in the Discussion Paper, and the Australian Government’s commitment to increase humanitarian protection generally, in line with global need. The Law Council also welcomes the recent introduction of moving humanitarian visas to online where there is a proposer.
In the context of overall immigration spending and the proposal in the Discussion Paper to keep the overall size of the Humanitarian Program at 20,000 places, the Law Council believes more could be done to address the significant demand arising from current global crises. To show leadership in refugee resettlement and maintain the generosity of the Humanitarian Program in the face of growing global need, the Law Council recommends that:
- the (offshore) refugee resettlement portion of the Humanitarian program be increased to keep pace with global resettlement needs;
- the Humanitarian Program be adequately funded to ensure that all allocated visas are granted in a timely manner, and to assist those who hold valid visas to enter Australia;
- a better service be provided to those who apply for Humanitarian visas, including responding to emails and also providing more realistic feedback to applicants and proposers on their prospects of being successful;
- the Humanitarian Program be sufficiently flexible to adapt to changing global circumstances;
- resettlement figures and the Community Support Program be disaggregated from the general Humanitarian Program so that Australia’s contribution to addressing the global refugee crisis is not obscured;
- the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot be properly established, expanded and resourced; and
- ImmiCards be issued expeditiously for those who do not hold valid passports or other travel documents.
In the Law Council's view, these changes would significantly improve the Humanitarian Program for 2025–26. They would align the program better with global need and the Australian Government’s goal of a ‘generous and flexible Humanitarian and Settlement Programs that meet Australia’s international protection obligations’.1 They would also help to position Australia as a global leader in international resettlement efforts.
1 Discussion Paper at 2.
Last Updated on 30/09/2025
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