Refugees have long been an important part of Australia’s migration story, contributing to the social, cultural and economic life of our communities.
In our 2026–27 submission on Australia’s Humanitarian Program, ECCV is calling for a progressive increase in our annual refugee intake to 27,000 places by 2029–30, alongside reforms to ensure the program is fairer, more accessible and better reflects current global need.
According to the United Nations, global displacement remains at record levels, with more than 120 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. At the same time, shifts in international refugee policy have placed pressure on countries like Australia to play a stronger role in protection and resettlement.
ECCV’s submission outlines a range of reforms to strengthen the Humanitarian Program, including:
- A progressive increase in the Humanitarian Program to 27,000 places annually by 2029–30
- An additional 5,000 visas for people displaced by conflicts in the Middle East
- Separating the onshore and offshore programs, so that visa grants to people in Australia do not reduce the offshore intake
- Expanding complementary pathways to 10,000 places annually, in addition to the core program
- Prioritising family reunion through the Special Humanitarian Program and reviewing the definition of “family”
- Improving access to legal and migration advice for people seeking asylum
- Ensuring people on bridging visas have work and study rights while their claims are processed
Media Enquiries
For media enquiries or more information, please contact us: media@eccv.org.au
Phone: (03) 9354 9555
