Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers

On 28 June 2012, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced that the Government had invited Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC (Ret’d), the former chief of Australia’s defence force, to lead an expert panel to provide a report on the best way forward for Australia to prevent asylum seekers risking their lives on dangerous boat journeys to Australia. 

The expert panel also included Mr Paris Aristotle AM, the Director of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc (also known as Foundation House) and Professor Michael L'Estrange AO, the Director of the National Security College at the Australian National University.

The Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers was released on 13 August 2012.

Full Report

Report of the Expert Panel of Asylum Seekers - Full Version - [ PDF 1.8MB ]
Report of the Expert Panel of Asylum Seekers - Full Version - [ RTF 2.3MB ]

Report by Section

Foreword - [PDF 58KB]

Overview : The Approach Underpinning this Report - [PDF 52KB]

Summary of Recommendations - [PDF 65KB]

Chapter 1: Asylum Seeking: The Challenges Australia Faces in Context - [PDF 196KB]

Chapter 2: Australian Policy Settings: An Integrated Approach Towards a Regional Coopperation Framework - [PDF 203KB]

Chapter 3: An Australian Policy Agenda - [PDF 195KB]

Attachments

Attachment 1: The global and regional context - [PDF 293KB]

Attachment 2: People smuggling and Australia - [PDF 572KB]

Attachment 3: Australia’s international law obligations with respect to refugees and asylum seekers - [PDF 78KB]

Attachment 4: Australia’s contribution to international protection - [PDF 92KB]

Attachment 5: Asylum caseloads and RSD rates in Australia and globally - [PDF 207KB]

Attachment 6: Australia’s international and regional engagement on irregular movement and international protection - [PDF 90KB]

Attachment 7: Returns and removals of persons found not to engage Australia’s protection obligations - [PDF 96KB]

Attachment 8: Approaches to managing IMAs to Australia - [PDF 107KB]

Attachment 9: Changes to the Humanitarian Program - [PDF 109KB]

Attachment 10: Legislation changes required to implement the Panel’s recommendations - [PDF 55KB]

Attachment 11: Likely costs of the Panel’s recommendations - [PDF 39KB]

Attachment 12: Parties consulted - [PDF 67KB]

Attachment 13: Submissions received - [PDF 70KB]

Attachment 14: Glossary of commonly used acronyms and terms - [PDF 65KB]