Australia's Humanitarian Program 2012–13 Consultations
The Humanitarian Program
Australia operates a dedicated Humanitarian Program, which offers resettlement for refugees and others in humanitarian need and protection for people already in Australia who are determined to be refugees.
The program is designed to fulfil our international obligations under the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and to go beyond these by helping people who are outside Australia but in great need of our help and protection.
Since 1945, around 750 000 people have begun new lives in Australia under humanitarian programs.
More information on the Humanitarian Program is available on the following pages.
See:
Refugee and Humanitarian
Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program
The consultation process
The Australian Government is committed to a fair and flexible Humanitarian Program. Australia's Humanitarian Program must be able to respond to world events, to focus on the resettlement of those persons most in humanitarian need, to enhance Australia's international standing but most importantly, be one in which the Australian community has confidence.
Each year, the Government seeks the views of the Australian public so that these can be taken into consideration in planning for and building future years' Humanitarian Programs.
Information paper
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, now invites the Australian public to provide their views and ideas on the size and composition of Australia's Humanitarian Program for 2012–13.
This information paper outlines how the Humanitarian Program currently operates and provides information on its size and composition over previous years.
It also outlines key challenges currently facing the Humanitarian Program and seeks public comment on how these could be addressed.
See: Australia's Humanitarian Program for 2012–13 Information Paper (164KB PDF file)
Submissions
The Australian public is invited to provide their views and ideas on Australia's Humanitarian Program for 2012–13.
If you would like to provide a written submission, please send it to:
Humanitarian Program submission
Assistant Secretary
Humanitarian Branch
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
PO Box 25
Belconnen ACT 2616
Submissions may also be sent by email.
Email: humanitarian.submission@immi.gov.au
All submissions should be received by 11.30pm Tuesday 31 January 2012.
For further information please send us an email.
Email: humanitarian.submission@immi.gov.au