Refugees: Why seeking asylum is legal and Australia's policies are not

Stopping the boats, blocking queue-jumpers, and proving who is a “real” refugee have become national obsessions. Misconceptions about refugees and asylum-seekers seem to be increasing, and governments and media continue to exploit anxieties in the community.

This clear-headed book rejects spin and panic to explain what our obligations are and who the refugees and asylum-seekers are. It shows that there is a gap between the rhetoric and the legislated rights of refugees, who have been resettled from camps abroad, and asylum-seekers, who arrive by boat. It explains the difference between asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants. It shows why asylum-seeker policies, developed over decades, are at odds with legal obligations.

With real-life examples, the book reminds us that we are talking about real people and their children.