IQ2 Debate: Refugees behind barbed wire. Refugee Convention discussion image shows a mother, child, and barbed wire fence.

STREAM
IQ2 Debate

DATE & TIME
06 JUNE 2017

LOCATION
SYDNEY TOWN HALL

Is Australia doing enough or too much for refugees?

Our refugee policy is polarising the country. Is the problem with the UN Refugee Convention itself? 

On Tuesday 6 June, we went beyond the political stalemate that is the refugee debate in this country.

The convention was first designed to help Europeans impacted by events before 1951. 16 years later, it was updated so it could apply to anyone needing refuge after that date. This effectively extended the promise of protection to people all over in the world.

The convention is quite specific on who it will help. A refugee is someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country because they have good reason to fear being persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, being a member of a particular social group or having certain political opinions.

With the number of displaced people now at 68.5 million, we took it to the experts to debate just how relevant the UN Refugee Convention still is.

Watch the debate

Catch up on the complete debate on YouTube. Just hit the button below.

Photo gallery

See all the action captured by our photographers at the live event in our gallery below.

Speakers

IQ2 Debate speaker on the Refugee Convention. A woman with red lips, a black turtleneck, and a red sweater stands before a patterned glass door.

Anna Boucher

is a senior lecturer in international relations at USyd.

IQ2 Debate speaker. Bald man in a black suit, vest, and tie. Pocket square. The Refugee Convention Is Out of Date debate.

Lord Fusitu’a

is a barrister and Tongan politician.

IQ2 Debate: Man in suit & glasses. Refugee Convention discussion. Is the current refugee policy out of date? Outdoor portrait.

Greg Sheridan

is an author and foreign editor for The Australian.

IQ2 Debate: Woman smiles, wearing a blue blazer. The Refugee Convention is Out of Date. She's debating refugee policy.

Erika Feller

is the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Headshot of man in suit for IQ2 Debate: The Refugee Convention Is Out of Date. Bald man with light complexion smiles wearing a blue shirt and dark jacket.

Paris Aristotle

is the Director for the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.

IQ2 Debate speaker on the Refugee Convention. Woman with blonde hair, wearing a black blazer, smiles against a dark background.

Jane McAdam

is a professor in refugee law at UNSW.

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Who is it for?

  • THE ACTIVIST
  • THE CARETAKER
  • THE JOURNALIST
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What you'll take away

  • 01HOW TO BE FOR HUMANITY IN A GLOBALISED WORLD
  • 02STATS AND FACTS ON ONE OF POLITICS’ MOST DIVISIVE TOPICS
  • 03THE UN REFUGEE CONVENTION IN A PINCH
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Things to think about