Fact Sheets

The most damaging myth in this debate is that held by our leaders - that Australians are intolerant towards asylum seekers. Be a part of changing the conversation about asylum seekers in your community.

Hostile myths are the greatest barrier to a more compassionate asylum seeker policy in Australia. Empower yourself to counter the disinformation by reading the myth-busting fact sheet from GetUp!

At the height of political dog-whistling in 2002 the Edmund Rice Centre led an important effort to bring clarity to the national debate through the publication of the accessible fact-sheet: Debunking the Myths on Asylum Seekers

It now appears to be necessary to revisit the topic to once again bring a factual spotlight to the debate for this election year.

The Australian government has stepped up its effort to form partnerships with regional neighbours to tackle people smuggling, which it identifies as the primary focus of its asylum seeker policy.

This publication from the Edmund Rice Centre explores how this shifts attention from the people most affected by this new strategy, those seeking asylum in Australia.