Iranian footballer visas welcome, but protection must extend beyond the spotlight
Sydney, 10 March 2026 — In response to news that the Australian government has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian… Read More
Sydney, 10 March 2026 — In response to news that the Australian government is introducing new rules to block people from countries including Iran from travelling to Australia on temporary and tourist visas, as widely reported, Asylum Seekers Centre CEO Elijah Buol OAM said:
“While the government has rightly offered humanitarian visas to members of the Iranian women’s football team, it has made the disgraceful move to simultaneously block people from countries like Iran from coming to Australia on temporary visas.
“The government is taking away with one hand as it reaches out with the other. They take the applause in the morning and slam the door shut in the afternoon. This is duplicity defined.
“It sends a deeply troubling message: while a few are granted safety, thousands of others fleeing danger will be denied the chance to reach sanctuary.
“Protection should never be limited to people with a high profile or public attention. Every person who genuinely fears persecution has the right to seek safety here, and that includes people already in the community who remain in limbo with no certainty or pathway to protection.
“We are calling on the government to abandon this callous bill and ensure that all people fleeing danger have a fair and accessible pathway to safety, not just those in the spotlight.”
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Media contact:
Maddison Bates-Willis on 0401 244 296 or maddison@asylumseekerscentre.org.au
