Call for Abstracts: The Law and Politics of Migration in Australia
Migration has long shaped Australia’s social fabric, economic development, and political identity. Yet contemporary debates over border governance, asylum policy, labour mobility, Indigenous sovereignty, and multiculturalism reveal a landscape marked by legal complexity and political contestation.
This interdisciplinary conference, jointly organised by Monash University’s Borders, Sovereignty and Justice Lab (Faculty of Law) and Migration and Mobilities Research Hub (Faculty of Arts), brings together scholars across law, political science, and related fields (including sociology, geography, philosophy, history, and public policy) to critically examine the evolving intersections of law, politics, and migration in Australia.
We invite submission that explore how legal frameworks both reflect and shape political narratives about belonging, citizenship, and national identity. Submissions may address historical or contemporary issues, doctrinal or empirical questions, and domestic or comparative perspectives.
Possible themes include, but are not limited to:
- Migration law and citizenship in Australia
- Borders, sovereignty, and migration governance (including offshore processing and detention)
- Human rights and the ethics of migration control
- Labour migration, temporary visas, and worker protections
- Indigenous perspectives and settler colonialism
- Politics, media, and public discourse on migration
- Migration, inclusion, and public policy
- Climate mobility and emerging legal challenges
- Comparative and regional approaches (including the Indo-Pacific)
Submission Details
- Abstracts: 250–300 words (plus short bio of up to 100 words)
- Deadline: Friday 19 June 2026
- Submit via online form
We strongly encourage submissions from early career researchers and HDR candidates, alongside established scholars.
We look forward to your proposals and to a vibrant interdisciplinary discussion.
Conference Details
The Law and Politics of Migration in Australia
Date: Thursday 3 - Friday 4 December 2026
Campus: Monash University Law Chambers
555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Registration is free, with catering provided. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation, and for the conference dinner (3 December).
Enquiries
Associate Professor Samantha Currie (Monash Borders, Sovereignty and Justice Lab)
samantha.currie@monash.edu
Associate Professor Matteo Bonotti (Migration and Mobilities Research Hub)
matteo.bonotti@monash.edu