Introduction: This quick guide provides statistics on the number of asylum seekers that have arrived by boat in Australia since 1976 when the first wave of boats carrying people seeking asylum from the aftermath of the Vietnam War began to arrive. It reproduces and updates the appendices of a more detailed Parliamentary Library research paper...

UNHCR undertook a visit to the Republic of Nauru from 7 to 9 October 2013 to assess the progress by Australia and Nauru in implementing their commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention since UNHCR’s December 2012 and March 2013 visits and to review the reception conditions at the Regional Processing Centre (RPC). Summary of key...

UNHCR undertook a visit to Manus Island from 23 to 25 October 2013 to assess the progress by Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in implementing their commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention since UNHCR’s June 2013 visit and to review the reception conditions at the Regional Processing Centre (RPC). Summary of key findings UNHCR...

Providing a brief history of boat arriving asylum seekers in Australia, as well as the various government solutions to cope with an increase in numbers, this paper asks whether New Zealand would be better placed, before PNG, to accommodate a greater number of people.

This paper provides a brief overview of the historical and political context surrounding boat arrivals in Australia since 1976.