Much to be Proud of, Much to be Done: Faith-based Organizations and the Politics of Asylum in Australia

This article provides an overview of the role faith-based organizations (FBOs) play in the politics of asylum in Australia. I suggest that an ethics of hospitality provides a useful way for theorizing the activities of Australian FBOs and their relationship with the Australian government. FBOs have used concepts and practices consistent with faith-based hospitality to challenge public discourses, provide services to asylum seekers that ameliorate the harsh effects of government immigration policies and eventually contribute to changes in those policies. Further, the faith-based hospitality that underpins the work of FBOs in the asylum sector has played a significant role in the substantial shifts in Australian government asylum policy in recent times, in particular the decision to expand the government's community detention programme. These changes provide unique opportunities for FBOs, yet come with significant risks and challenges regarding their ongoing engagement in asylum politics and the small but significant progress that has been made towards a more humane and compassionate asylum policy in Australia.