A ground-breaking study in the US has revealed that over two decades, foreign-born refugees have contributed twice as much in tax revenue as has been spent on services for them. The study, funded by the Tennessee state legislature, found the…

The Opposition says Tony Abbott risks further undermining Australia’s relationship with Indonesia over the issue of asylum seekers. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asia/2013-12-16/tony-abbotts-megaphone-diplomacy-on-asylum-seekers-risks-further-damaging-indonesia-relationship/1234898

Ethiopian-born Hana Abera spoke eloquently at a ceremony in Parliament House last week, describing the value of her work experience at the Royal Hobart Hospital and discussing some challenges migrants faced. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/ethiopian-born-hana-abera-finds-haven-in-hobart/story-fnjj6013-1226781976032

Australia’s largest asylum seeker organisation is coming to Footscray in a major coup for refugees living in the west. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Nicholson St will be three times bigger with the capacity to care for more than…

An Afghani Hazara refugee has won the inaugural ‘Photo of the Year’ in the prestigious Nikon-Walkley Press Photography awards. Barat Ali Batoor’s photo ‘The First Day at Sea’ was entered as part of a photo essay on asylum seekers travelling…

Cutting energy bills can improve the home comfort, health and well-being of low income families, according to new research. As well as saving money, reducing energy usage and being environmentally friendly made people feel better about themselves, according to study…

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has raised the prospect of Australia leaving the United Nations refugee convention after a key plank of the government’s border protection plan was scuttled in the Senate. http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/q1/news/a/-/national/20134719/pm-puts-refugee-convention-in-spotlight/

The military commander in charge of the operation to stop asylum seeker boats has revealed that not one boat has been purchased under the Australian government’s controversial boat ‘buy-back’ policy because Indonesia does not support the idea. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-19/an-boats-buyback/5103184