Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dramatically escalated the debate over his Government’s secrecy about asylum seekers, claiming the battle was akin to war and Australia would never tell its enemies everything it was doing in wartime conflict. Read more: http://couriermail.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/showarticle.aspx?&article=0a44a2b0-db68-4dc3-88a2-34bb1d62398f&viewmode=2&page=14 

The population and profile of the small farming community of Nhill is being boosted by Karen refugees who have moved into the town. The Karen people from the Thai Burmese border have now featured in a photographic exhibition. Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-11/karen-refugees-are-helping-boost-the-economy-of/5195746?section=vic

On the 6th of December, 14 excited and inspired AMES students were presented with their Certificate I in Vocational Preparation at Holmesglen, Glen Waverley. The students, from four different AMES sites, had just completed the first SEE Trade Taster course…

Artworks and photographs by AMES students have gone on display at the Splash Gallery in Footscray. The art and photography was created as part of the recent Big West arts festival. One group of students learned embroidery skills and created…

Any investigation by Papua New Guinea authorities into alleged rape and torture cases on Manus Island could prove almost impossible because most asylum seekers have already been moved to Australia. The Immigration Department confirmed 70 asylum seekers were transferred from…

Indonesia’s government and military have moved to align against Australia’s policy of turning back asylum seeker boats. Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-10/indonesias-military-and-government-align-against-boat-policy/5193214  

According to the Australian Parliamentary Library’s research service, between 70 per cent and 97 per cent of asylum seekers arriving by boat at different times have been found to be genuine refugees (The Age, 9/1). Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-letters/the-vast-majority-are-genuine-refugees-20140109-30kgo.html#ixzz2pxGoCXom

Quietly living and studying English in the south east Melbourne suburb of Dandenong is a man who with his music caused a wave of mass hysteria across a war-torn, fragmented nation. In 2008 Navid Forogh won the Afghan Star talent…

Confusion continues regarding Australia’s asylum seeker turnback policy, with conflicting reports from Indonesia over whether they have agreed to it. In his first interview of the year, Prime Minister Tony Abbott appeared to confirm an understanding had been reached. Read…

The majority of Australians think asylum seekers who arrive by boat are not genuine refugees, prompting Warrnambool humanitarian advocates to say fear has replaced the once-proud Australian tradition of standing up for the underdog. Read more: http://www.standard.net.au/story/2012365/plea-for-compassion-on-asylum-seekers/

Despite the contentious nature of the asylum seeker issue and the intense political and social debate around it, Australia’s share of world-wide asylum applications remains a small fraction of the total. Figures included in the recently published Australian Human Rights…

The numbers of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia on people smugglers’ boats continues to drop as the Abbott Government reportedly considers transferring them to taxpayer-bought boats to send them back to Indonesia. Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/lets-put-an-end-to-secrecy-on-the-high-seas/story-fni0ffsx-1226797670976