Department of Home Affairs (Australia)

There was no better example of a politicised public service than Mike Pezzullo, its former Home Affairs Secretary, writes Binoy Kampmark.

The High Court’s ruling in NZYQ should be an opportunity to create a system that strikes a balance between respect for human rights and the rule of law and the rightful protection of the community, argues Mary Crock.

PM Anthony Albanese’s decision to keep controversial senior public servant Mike Pezzullo on as home affairs secretary doesn’t bode well for those hoping for progressive change, argues Paul Gregoire.

A case against the Department of Home Affairs and International Health and Medical Services over the death of an Iraqi refugee held in the Villawood detention centre has been adjourned. Chris Slee reports.

Refugee activists shut down the offices of the Department of Home Affairs in Meanjin (Brisbane) on November 11. Isaac Nellist reports.

A protest camp has sprung up outside the Mantra Hotel in Preston to try and prevent the detainees from being removed. Jacob Andrewartha reports.

With the re-election of the Coalition government, conservatives have become emboldened to intensify their agenda of transferring even more wealth and power to the already dominant at the expense of the rest of us, writes Nick Fredman.

Members of the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance (WACA) blockaded the Home Affairs Department building and the Wilson Security Car Park in Canberra on March 28.

They were protesting the treatment of refugees held in indefinite detention and at risk of being deported to danger. The activists held banners that read “Border Force Tortures Refugees”, “Deportations = Death”, “#Justice4Refugees”, “#SackDutton” and “All Refugees in Detention are Political Prisoners”.

Seven protesters who staged a sit-in on November 3 at the Lonsdale Street headquarters of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection have avoided a conviction for trespassing on Commonwealth property. They were part of group protesting the closure of the Manus Island detention centre three days earlier.

I could not wait to purchase my ticket to Iraqi singer Nour Al-Zain’s scheduled concert in Sydney this weekend. I made a trip to ‘Iraqi’ Fairfield last week and finally purchased the ticket. I had saved up the ticket money over the past few weeks. 

With much anticipation to finally see my favourite Iraqi singer live on his first ever tour to Australia, I counted the days and hours — and even had plans to welcome him at the airport. 

I think it was anthropologist Ghassan Hage who once said that Australians are in constant fear of their country being stolen — again. Australia has a history of policy-making based on the fear of the outsider. But of all the acts of government based on that fear the new Home Affairs portfolio of Peter Dutton will rank as one of the most dangerous.

The status quo in this country is ... interesting. Take the man who deliberately chased down 14-year-old Elijah Doughty in a four wheel drive, killing the Aboriginal teenager in Kalgoorlie, yet was acquitted of manslaughter by a jury without any Aboriginal people on it.

But don’t worry, he was found guilty of “dangerous driving”, which makes me wonder if the judge gave him a stern lecture about taking more care on the roads or next time he might kill someone whose life matters.