Australia’s system of executive governance grants exceptional discretionary power to administrative decision-makers. Yet how decision-makers reach conclusion in the absence of verifiable evidence remains largely unexplored. This is highlighted in Protection visa decision-making, known internationally as Refugee Status Determination. Protection Assessment is complex; claims are provided with minimal supporting evidence, and decisions are almost always reliant in the ‘credibility’ of the applicant’s narrative and claims. 

However, ‘credibility’ itself remains an unconsolidated concept. In particular we lack a firm theoretical or empirical understanding of how a primary decision-maker weighs and resolves competing factors to reach a threshold of satisfaction.

Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice, this research investigates how decision-makers’ habitus resolves the doxic social, cultural, and institutional forces that influence their discretionary judgments. The study examines the interplay between decision-makers and asylum seekers during narrative interviews, where competing perspectives and power dynamics significantly affect credibility outcomes. Through Bourdieu’s lens, the research connects micro-level decision-making to macro-level socio-political structures, focusing on how decision-makers navigate the exercise of discretionary power in uncertainty.

This seminar is Kristian's Confirmation of Candidature milestone presentation. As such, the presentation is a closed event for RegNet staff, visitors and students only.

About the speaker

Dual-trained in journalism and law, Kristian Hollins has held a range of roles in the Department of Home Affairs since 2015, with a particular focus on Protection assessment and administrative law. Kristian was previously a Department of Immigration and Border Protection Research Fellow in the Migration and Border Policy Project at the Lowy Institute, undertaking research on comparative approaches to establishing identity in undocumented asylum seekers. Most recently Kristian worked in Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division, advising on lawful decision-making, litigation outcomes, and protection assessment reform.

COVID protocols

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This seminar presentation is in-person only. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

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