How the hope of ANU student activists for a more humane world is sparking conversations around refugee rights in Australia
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” - Arundhati Roy
Australia’s hands were outstretched in support as cheers of “Aussie Aussie Aussie” echoed throughout the nation. Our country celebrated as we welcomed members of the Iranian Women’s Soccer team, who were offered refuge and protection in the wake of the recent conflict. At that moment, it seemed that Australia had finally started to step up in providing refuge to those seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Yet, on that very same day, the government introduced legislation that would have stopped them from touching down on Australian soil in the first place. According to the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No.1) Bill would allow the relevant Minister to withdraw already granted visas from refugees if the conditions change in their origin country.1 RCOA Co-CEO Paul Power points out the irony of the situation - “it is extraordinary that, on the same day the … government took the step of protecting five Iranian citizens at risk, the same government introduce[d] legislation entirely at odds with this very positive action”.2
For ANU Students Kiana Levy and Mungo Sweeney, the well-being of refugees and asylum seekers should not be dulled down to political debate. For them, refugee rights are a sustained commitment to engaging with the realities of refugees and the systems that hold their livelihoods in their hands. Kiana and Mungo channel this passion into their roles as President and Vice President, respectively, of ANU’s Refugee Action Campaign (RAC). RAC connects a network of people around Australia that push for better treatment of refugees, working to raise public awareness about the government’s duties to grant refuge to asylum seekers.3 Members are from all backgrounds and the organisation is not associated with any political party.4
Kiana is based in Sydney on Dharug and GuriNgai country, completing her third year of a double degree in Law and Arts. Taking the lead is natural to Kiana; alongside being the RAC, she is the secretary of the National University Theatre Society (NUTS), feeding into her love for all things theatre. Furthermore, Kiana was the Queer Representative at Wright Hall, where she fostered a warm environment, ensuring that LGBTQIA+ residents felt supported and seen. Her involvement in both advocacy and the arts speaks to a deep commitment to storytelling in all its forms, evident in her dedication to amplifying the stories of refugees.
Mungo is from Naarm in Wurundjeri country and is in his second year studying a Bachelor of International Relations. Outside the classroom, he is a Residential Mentor at Burton and Garran Hall (BnG) and serves as the Media (Television) editor at Woroni (ANU’s famous student magazine), somehow managing to balance it all with ease. It is a miracle Mungo still has time to enjoy his favourite pastime - reading (if you’re lucky, you might spot him tucked away beneath the lush trees in the BnG hammocks, book in hand). His academic focus and leadership in refugee advocacy point to a sustained commitment to engaging critically with displacement and the policies that shape refugee lives.
In an increasingly volatile global political climate marred by ongoing conflicts, refugee movements continue to grow; it is vital that legal systems and national policies respond with greater responsiveness and care. Against this backdrop, we spoke with Kiana and Mungo about Australia’s refugee framework and what meaningful change could look like.
For readers who might not be familiar, how would you describe what RAC is and does?
Mungo: The ANU Refugee Action Campaign is primarily focused on advocating for the rights of refugees in this country and maintaining opposition to offshore detention. In this country, we’ve seen bipartisan support for one of the most brutal refugee policies in the world and I think that it’s really important that we don’t allow that to stay ‘normal’ and unchallenged. A lot of our advocacy at ANU is centred around educational events featuring diverse speakers (whether they’re refugees, international lawyers, politicians, activists or humanitarian professionals. We also host opportunities for people to get involved in speaking up for refugees by lobbying politicians and joining us at rallies. One recent example was this year’s Palm Sunday rally, ‘Refugees and Migrants Welcome Here’. I was lucky enough to MC the event and I think that seeing around more than a thousand people show up to express their support for migrants and refugees in our community gave me a lot of hope. We had people representing unions, environment organisations, faith groups and beyond; that day was a really heartening reflection of the strong, united opposition against the resurgence of racist anti-immigration rhetoric in this country.
Was there a particular experience or story that shaped your views on refugee rights?
Mungo: My mum and her family came to Australia escaping sectarian violence and persecution in the North of Ireland, so I was raised by people who’d been forced out of their home and came here seeking safety. Even in spite of that personal element, I think a lot of it comes down to pretty basic humanity. People that flee war to seek asylum here have committed no crime.
Kiana, how do you think being a law student changes the way you approach refugee advocacy?
Kiana: I think it’s generally assumed that the law teaches those working in the profession to follow a solidified set of rules, painting this picture of law as static and incongruent with any ideas of advocacy - I find it completely the opposite! Dismantling and learning to reinvent practices where the law has historically worked to disregard the context of minority groups and favour the privileged is a large part of what studying law at ANU entails for me. If anything, I feel that law acts as a powerful tool that, if wielded with fundamental human rights and justice in mind, can be used to uphold fairness and humanity towards those who are not afforded this privilege. This is especially true for refugees who are vulnerable to the harsh immigration policies that Australia often adopts, where I hope and believe that, when the right hearts and minds work to do so, concepts such as the right to procedural fairness will one day be extended to further recognise the rights held by refugees under international law.
From your perspective, what’s the biggest gap between how refugees are treated in Australia and how they should be treated?
Kiana: Well, I think it’s not an outrageous idea to say that people fleeing violence, especially children, should not be subject to mandatory prison-adjacent detention, which realistically holds no end in sight for those living in limbo. It feels outrageous that, in a ‘multicultural’, ‘post-colonial’ day and age, there is still such a heavily accepted rhetoric that refugees and migrants pose a ‘threat’ to our society, so much so that both major political parties find that stripping refugees of their most basic human rights is ‘necessary protocol’. They are to be perceived first and foremost as a threat, and secondarily as human. But it is at the bare minimum, that this should not be the case. Our processing procedures should treat refugees and asylum seekers with respect, dignity and fairness, and ideally our policies would reflect and recognise that refugees are not only actually quite beneficial for our economy, but in welcoming them we are afforded the opportunity for true social integration, diversity and progress in the decolonial mission.
How do you reconcile studying law - often seen as neutral or objective - with engaging in advocacy that is inherently value-driven?
Kiana: To me, and those HLA Hart sympathisers will disagree, value-driven work and law are so heavily integrated that I have begun to see them as almost one and the same. The law is not some neutral and objective force, and it shouldn’t be! Rote rule-following will not allow for the law to reflect the changing values of our society, and that is why a judge’s role could never be replaced by AI- deciding what is not just is such a complex human task. My belief that the law reflects what it should be is what allows me to believe that the work that ANU RAC does to help and advocate for refugees will lead to future systemic social and legal change- it just takes a lot of heart and a strong legal argument
What are some things RAC is planning to do in the future to help support refugees?
Mungo: Our future events are going to promote the same goals we’ve always been campaigning for. Hopefully, through a combination of events with guest speakers, letter writing and discussion, we can continue education in opposing racist narratives, staunch advocacy for the rights of refugees and demanding an end to offshore detention.
What gives you hope in this space right now?
Mungo: I get a lot of hope from knowing that there are smart, gutsy people working towards carving out a more just future for all of us; that work isn’t easy, but it is absolutely pivotal. I think our strength comes from our collective knowledge that a more inclusive and fair country is something that is worth fighting for. I’m often reminded of Arundhati Roy, who said that “another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing”.
References
[1] “Government welcomes five soccer players while bolting the door closed for others” Refugee Council for Australia, 10 March 2026. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/government-welcomes-five-soccer-players-while-bolting-door-closed-for-others/
[2] Ibid.
[3] Refugee Action Campaign. “About Us.” https://refugeeaction.org/about-us/
[4] Ibid.
