Who are the Temporary people – and how did Australia trap them in endless uncertainty?

Meet Zaki, who fled a Taliban death warrant when he was a teenager to find somewhere safe. Instead, he finds himself impounded in the crude politics of fear that Australian leaders have been stoking for decades. He is one of 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the ‘legacy caseload’, kept silent by a system that holds permanent protection out of reach. We know the stories of Manus and Nauru, but how did this happen, right in our midst?

"My life has been in limbo since I was 16.... People my age, I think they have goals and dreams of what they wanted in five years or in 10  years, just like a normal human being. For me it's like, if I have tomorrow, I'll be happy."

Who are the Temporary people – and how did Australia trap them in endless uncertainty? Meet Zaki, who fled a Taliban death warrant when he was a teenager to find somewhere safe. Instead, he finds himself impounded in the crude politics of fear that Australian leaders have been stoking for decades. He is one of 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the ‘legacy caseload’, kept silent by a system that holds permanent protection out of reach. We know the stories of Manus and Nauru, but how did this happen, right in our midst? "My life has been in limbo since I was 16.... People my age, I think they have goals and dreams of what they wanted in five years or in 10 years, just like a normal human being. For me it's like, if I have tomorrow, I'll be happy."

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

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