“Families have been intentionally ripped apart and hundreds of children were denied safe childhoods. Fourteen people who were held in offshore detention have died under the Australian Government’s watch,” Ms Langbien said.

“There is much work to be done to restore humanity and dignity to Australia’s refugee protection system.”

Five steps have been outlined by the Human Rights Law Centre for the ministers.

1. The Albanese government to honour the promise they made to end the use of temporary protection and provide permanent safety to more than 19,000 refugees “currently living in limbo temporary protection visas.”
2. Shut down offshore detention indefinitely and “provide safety, certainty and justice for every person who has suffered in Nauru or Papua New Guinea.” Furthermore, an investigation should be opened on the Australian government’s role and those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.
3. Report on the crisis in Australian immigration detention.
   

4. Timely and accessible reunions for torn-apart families by radically overhauling the family migration system and ending the deliberate separation of refugee families.
5. A restoration and expansion of the Human Rights Law Centre’s resettlement program to bring more refugees to safety in Australia each year, as well as working with neighbouring countries in order to establish safe pathways for people seeking asylum.

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