'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free...' How has Australia risen to Emma Lazarus' great challenge? This overview of the historical, social and political contexts that have shaped Australia's recent treatment of asylum seekers offers a clear-eyed view of the many dimensions of the asylum seeker predicament, including its psychological and humanitarian consequences, and lays out an agenda for change in policy. Yearning to Breathe Free is a passionate but informed work that is multi-faceted, thought-provoking, and ultimately hopeful. The book is divided into six parts: Historical background introduced by Professor Stuart Macintyre; Coming to Australia introduced by Senator Lyn Allison; Treatment of arrived asylum seekers introduced by the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser; Resettlement in Australia introduced by Sir Gustav Nossal; Public opinion introduced by Phillip Adams; The future of asylum seeker policies introduced by Linsay Tanner MP.