Media contact

Susi Hamilton
UNSW Media Office
+61 422 934 024
susi.hamilton@unsw.edu.au

A book about refugee law co-authored by UNSW’s Scientia Professor Jane McAdam is one of three UNSW titles shortlisted for the 2015 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Refugees: Why seeking asylum is legal and Australia's policies are not, is in contention for Awards' 'Community Relations Commission for Multicultural NSW’ category.

Co-written with Fiona Chong, the UNSW Press book provides a straightforward and balanced account of Australia’s asylum policies in light of international law. Written for a general audience, it explains who asylum seekers and refugees are, what the law is, and what policies like offshore processing, mandatory detention, and turning back boats mean in practice

The judges noted the “accessibility” of the book, writing: “By adding their own insights to the personal stories of refugees and asylum seekers and placing them within the context of international and Australian law, the authors have succeeded in writing a book that is both informative and easily understood. The work’s simplicity is its great achievement.

“…the tone of the book remains measured and its arguments well‐reasoned. In this way, Refugees carries a calm authority in its consideration of this difficult and divisive area of the law.”

The  book is one of three UNSW titles shortlisted. The Europeans in Australia by Alan Atkinson, published by NewSouth, has been shortlisted for the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction.

Black and Proud: The story of an AFL photo by Matthew Klugman and Gary Osmond, published by NewSouth, is also shortlisted in the community relations category.

The winners will be announced on 18 May, along with the winners of Book of the Year and a Special Prize.

For the full list of the shortlisted titles go to the Sydney Morning Herald.