Paper short abstract:

New Australian refugee processing means many asylum seekers fail their refugee claims. This paper explores the strategies used by "unauthorised maritime arrivals" to navigate "necropolitical" policy, and Australia's carceral regime, to avoid the ever-present threat of refoulement.

Paper long abstract:

New Australian refugee processing means many asylum seekers fail their refugee claims. This paper explores the strategies used by "unauthorised maritime arrivals" to navigate "necropolitical" policy, and Australia's carceral regime, to avoid the ever-present threat of refoulement.

"Bordering", "externalisation" and incarceration are key features of Australian policy and legislation for those who arrive in Australia by sea as "unauthorised maritime arrivals". Australia's obligations to the UN Refugee Convention were removed from the processing of refugee claims in 2014. Many people seeking asylum now fail the new refugee processing. Facing the ever-present threat of detention and refoulement if they do not update visas regularly, asylum seekers must adhere to a stringent behaviour code that prevents them from speaking publicly about their situation. Further punitive policy acts a "necropolitical" force, removing the capacity to find regular work, and denying support, driving many to consider returning to their place of persecution.

Using fieldwork undertaken over three years at a voluntary asylum seeker hub, this paper explores the strategies asylum-seeking people develop to negotiate short-term visas, lack of income and avoid Australia's carceral regime mandated for failed asylum seekers, thus evading the ever-present threat of refoulement.