‘My existence is not temporary’: The refugees who are finally allowed to stay

Zaki Haidari is one of 19,000 people who Australia has kept in limbo, but will now get the certainty of a permanent place in Australia. Temporary protection visas allowed people who arrived by boat to come to Australia, but denied them the rights of other visa holders, and hanging over them was the threat that they could be sent back to where they came from. The Labor party promised to put an end to the visas, and now, nine months after the election they’ve finally delivered. For many, it’s a life changing relief – but the change is uneven and over a thousand remain trapped in temporary status. Today, former refugee and advocate Zaki Haidari, on his journey to Australia, life as a temporarily protected person and why the fight continues for refugees in Australia. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Former refugee and advocate, Zaki Haidari