Submission in response to Australia's Humanitarian Program 2026-27

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The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia (“the Society”) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department of Home Affairs’ discussion paper on Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2026-27.

As one of Australia’s largest charitable networks, the Society draws on decades of direct support to people seeking asylum and refugees across the country. The Society’s approach is grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, especially the principles of human dignity, solidarity and the common good, and informed by the experience of our members and services, including through the Vincentian Refugee Network. We have been heavily involved in supporting refugees since settling refugees from Vietnam in the mid-1970s.

The Society is concerned that this year’s discussion paper places strong emphasis on sustainability, waiting times and costs in ways that may foreshadow a shift away from government-supported, protection-based resettlement. We do not support any reduction in Australia’s Humanitarian Program, nor any move away from prioritising protection need and UNHCR-referred resettlement within it.