During the election campaign last year, the Australian government had instructed Royal Australian Navy to intercept and return asylum-seekers boat on the high sea. This operation, knwon as Operation Relex, has reported to be commanded directly by the Prime Minister's Office. In a ground breaking investigation into the Operation Relex, the ABC's investigative journalists reveal how Australian government has thrown the inhuman decisions at the asylum-seekers: denial of medical treatment to the severely ill, use of capsicum sprays and cattle-prods against asylum seekers who finally were forced out of Australia. Perhaps original video tape may give better comprehension. But in the absence of the tape, the audio transcript here is of some help.

Since MV Tampa incident last year, the Australian government refugee policy is getting more and more messier. The plight of detainees at offshore detention centres across Pacific to that of the thousands of Temporary Protection Visa holders on shore, not to mention the 1600 East Timorese asylum-seekers whom their case remained unresolved over ten years, to name just a few, are the indicators of the extent of the problem. This came on top of government mis-handling of asylum-boats, including the spreading of racist propaganda over "chindern overboard" affairs. In his address as spokesperson for Human Rights Council of Australia, Mr Sidoti (former Commissioner of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of Australia) spells out some suggestion as to remedy the refugee problem in Australia.

Australian government legislation on further restricting asylum-seekers' rights. There has been indication of government policy makers' concern go beyond limiting Australia of 'large numbers' of asylum seekers.

There has been reports of rolling hunger strikes staging up by detainees in Woomera. The asylum-seekers dug symbolic graves with frequent report of attempted suicide by detainees.

The speech delivered by Dr Don McMaster, one of the leading academic and independent commentator on refugees in Australia. Full transcript.

Speech delivered by The Most Reverend Ian George, Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide, on the Refugees Issue Forum on September 4, 2001.

The Asylum-seekers at Woomera end their hunger strike after mediation by the Immigration Detention Advisory Group (a government appointed advisory group), which promised that the asylum seekers' visa application will be processed.

Asylum-seekers who are detained in Woomera Detention Center in South Australia have staged mass hunger strike. More than 240 asylum-seekers, who mainly are from Afghanistan, have been involved in the protest action. Some protesters, including children, sewed their lips so as to signify their incommunicado detention. Asylum seekers are protesting government moratorium put on the processing of their protection visa applications.

In a comprehensive analysis and report, the journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald reveals the government's the political opportunism and racist scapegoating of Iraqi refugees over the so-called 'baby throwing' incident.

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leaders have both condemned, without checking accuracy or details of the incident, the Iraqi asylum seekers on that boat. The critics put it that both Liberal (government) and Labour (Opposition) parties joined a "refugee bashing session", so as to appease their own xenophobic electorate.The GreenLeft Weekly.

Just two days after federal election was announced in October 2001, the government claimed the asylum-seekers thrown overboard their childrens so as to be rescued by Royal Australian Navy. Report by The Australians.

The Year 2001 in Australia may be described as a crowning year for racism and xenophobia. There is a unanimous verdict by social commentators and respected academics that Australia is heading towards so-called "White Australia Policy" of 1901, exactly in the same year the federation was formed. A very informative analysis from The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian government's inhuman and dangerous practice of intercepting and returning asylum-seekers' boat had claimed two lives of women, one of who was more than 70 years old. Report by The Australians.

The refugees who hold the Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) are not allowed family reunion by Australian government and have no right to re-enter Australia if they leave Australian soil. Reported by GreenLeft Weekly.

The Indonesian authorities  forced asylum-seekers to board an already crowded boat , which subsequently sunk. Report by The Australians.

The plight of asylum-seekers held in detention for extended period is highlighted by detention centre protests and frequent break-outs of asylum-seekers. Six Iranian asylum-seekers, who being held for more than 10 months in Woomera Detention Centre had break-out and protested their detention. The Immigration department bring these protesters to Adelaide jail against the decision of the Courts. Report from The Australians.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugee objects Australian Government's plan of the so-called 'Pacific Solution', which send asylum-seekers to the Pacific Island nations, such as Nauru and Papua NewGuinea, for detention. From The Australians.

There are frequent reports of immigration deteinees have been treated as criminals by the staff-members of Australasian Correctional Management (ACM), a commercial firm which runs most of detention centers under government contract. In this report, some Chinese asylum-seekers sue ACM and Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock for their due negligence. The Court ordered the ACM to pay fine to these detainees. From The Advertiser in South Australia.

The drowning of 353 asylum-seekers in late October 2001 off the coast of indonesia. The report indicates that majority of those onboard ill-fated boat were women and childrens seeking to reunite with their husbands or fathers who are in Australia. Report from the Advertiser.

Australian Coalition Government, with the support of opposition Labor Party, promulgated as yet meanest refugees laws. The legislation include controversial clause that exclude some parts of Australian Territory as 'non-immigration zone'. GreenLeft Weekly reported.