How We Work

The NCCA gathers together Churches and Christian communities which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures. We commit to deepen our relationship with each other and to work together towards the fulfilment of common witness, proclamation and service, to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Open letter to PM expresses deep concerns about new migration law

The Australian Churches Refugee Task Force has signed an open letter expressing deep concern about the recent passage of the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No 1) Act, passed with extraordinary haste, with limited opportunity for scrutiny or consultation.

The act will prevent people from travelling to Australia from countries experiencing conflict or humanitarian crises because they might seek asylum, even where they already hold valid temporary visas such as tourist, student or business visas. The letter urges Government to consider the humanitarian implications of the act and to take the following urgent actions:

  • that people currently stranded in Iran, Lebanon and any middle eastern country who hold Refugee or Humanitarian XB subclass visas be included in any evacuation or humanitarian travel arrangements. According to the Refugee Council of Australia, several hundred refugees in Iran and across the Middle East have already been granted visas but have not yet been able to travel to Australia. These people have been formally accepted by Australia and should be brought to safety at the earliest opportunity.
  • that the Government to ensure that applications for family reunion involving immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents who remain in Iran and other countries in the Middle East are processed rapidly. People currently in Australia who remain in the Refugee Status Determination process should be granted refugee protection where appropriate. Where a negative determination has been made, decisions should be reviewed in light of significantly changed country conditions in the Middle East. This includes people from Iran seeking asylum who have been waiting for permanent visas for more than 13 years – they need the security of permanent visas.
  • calls on the Government to provide permanent protection visas to the men, women and children—many of whom are Iranian—who were transferred offshore to Nauru and Papua New Guinea and later evacuated to Australia for medical treatment. Many of these individuals have now lived in the Australian community for up to twelve years. It is unjust that they continue to live with uncertainty and fear about their future.
  • the deteriorating situation in Iran raises serious concerns for individuals currently engaged in voluntary return processes. It is understandable that many may now feel unable to continue with their planned departure. We urge the Government to reconsider these cases and ensure that individuals do not lose access to support if they decide that returning to Iran is no longer safe.

The new legislation grants excessive discretionary power to the Minister for Home Affairs. Decisions with far-reaching consequences for individuals, international protection obligations, and Australia’s diplomatic relationships should be subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny, rather than resting solely in ministerial discretion.

The recently legislated measures undermine Australia’s long-standing commitment to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which requires signatory nations to protect those who seek asylum from persecution. The recent Amendments to the Migration Act need to be reversed, as they close the door on people who are in need of refugee protection.

– The Australian Refugee Action Network is encouraging organisations to sign the open letter.