Urge the Australian Government to Keep the Afghanistan Embassy Open Beyond 30 June 2026
The issue
We, members of the Afghan community in Australia and other supporters of the Afghanistan Embassy in Australia, urgently call on the Australian Government not to close the Afghanistan Embassy on 30 June 2026.
In August 2021, along with the rest of the world, diplomats and staff at the Afghanistan Embassy in Canberra witnessed the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. They nevertheless chose to remain and uphold their commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
The Afghan Embassy does not represent or recognise the Taliban as the legitimate representatives of the Afghan people, and it has continued to operate independently. Extraordinarily, the Embassy has kept its doors open for the last 4.5 years without governmental funding.
During this time, the Embassy has assisted with over 36,000 cases, providing essential consular support to Afghan people living in Australia.
The Embassy has also provided a vital platform for the Afghan-Australian community, particularly the voices of Afghan women and girls, at a time when their rights to education, work and participation have been severely restricted in Afghanistan. Its continued operation is important to ensuring that these voices are not further silenced.
On 30 January 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a joint statement with the Embassy announcing that operations would be suspended after 30 June 2026, “given concerns the situation was not able to continue in perpetuity”.
This decision was made despite the ongoing commitment of H.E. Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi and his team to serve the Afghan community in Australia and keep the Embassy’s doors open.
DFAT has not answered questions about how gaps left by the Embassy's closure will be filled. Closing the Embassy would remove an important institutional voice for the Afghan community in Australia and further limit access to representation, support and documentation for people affected by Afghanistan’s continuing crisis.
We call on Hon. Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Australian Government to allow the existing independent Afghan Embassy to remain open and continue its operations, including essential community and consular support.
453
The issue
We, members of the Afghan community in Australia and other supporters of the Afghanistan Embassy in Australia, urgently call on the Australian Government not to close the Afghanistan Embassy on 30 June 2026.
In August 2021, along with the rest of the world, diplomats and staff at the Afghanistan Embassy in Canberra witnessed the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. They nevertheless chose to remain and uphold their commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
The Afghan Embassy does not represent or recognise the Taliban as the legitimate representatives of the Afghan people, and it has continued to operate independently. Extraordinarily, the Embassy has kept its doors open for the last 4.5 years without governmental funding.
During this time, the Embassy has assisted with over 36,000 cases, providing essential consular support to Afghan people living in Australia.
The Embassy has also provided a vital platform for the Afghan-Australian community, particularly the voices of Afghan women and girls, at a time when their rights to education, work and participation have been severely restricted in Afghanistan. Its continued operation is important to ensuring that these voices are not further silenced.
On 30 January 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a joint statement with the Embassy announcing that operations would be suspended after 30 June 2026, “given concerns the situation was not able to continue in perpetuity”.
This decision was made despite the ongoing commitment of H.E. Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi and his team to serve the Afghan community in Australia and keep the Embassy’s doors open.
DFAT has not answered questions about how gaps left by the Embassy's closure will be filled. Closing the Embassy would remove an important institutional voice for the Afghan community in Australia and further limit access to representation, support and documentation for people affected by Afghanistan’s continuing crisis.
We call on Hon. Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Australian Government to allow the existing independent Afghan Embassy to remain open and continue its operations, including essential community and consular support.
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 19 June 2026