DIMA Annual Report 1996-97
Supplementary statement 2 — Non–statutory bodies
2a. Ministerial Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Annual meetings of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers of Immigration, Ethnic Affairs and Multicultural Affairs have been held since August 1946, under various titles.
The title was changed in March 1994 to the Ministerial Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, in accordance with the protocols established by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in December 1992.
Objectives and functions
The objectives of the council are:
- firstly, to provide a forum for the development of appropriate policies and strategies across the spheres of Government, on aspects of immigration, settlement, citizenship and multicultural affairs; and
- secondly, to maximise the benefits for Australia from the entry and settlement of people, through the integration of relevant policies and services within the overall economic, social and environmental strategies of governments, using to the fullest extent the contributions of community groups.
In particular, the council will:
- share information on immigration and population issues of the annual migration program;
- monitor the development and outcomes of State/Territory settlement plans, in accordance with Ministers' resolutions of June 1992, and with respect to the involvement of local government;
- co-operate in developing, implementing and reviewing policies of strategic national significance in the area of multicultural and ethnic affairs, and in identifying opportunities for joint strategies;
- develop and review strategies and programs requiring joint financial contributions, such as the Commonwealth, State and Territory Research Program and the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI); and
- ensure liaison with other councils on matters of shared interest.
The council is chaired by the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and includes State and Territory Ministers with direct responsibility for ethnic and/or multicultural affairs.
At the Ministerial Council meeting in March 1994, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) was accepted as a full member of the council.
The New Zealand Minister for Immigration and NAATI attend as observers. The council meets annually, with extraordinary meetings called as necessary.
The council involves discussion of issues-based resolutions prepared by officials at their meeting on the previous day. (See Standing Committee of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.)
Date of termination and review
The term of office of the council is open and no review date has been set.
Activities, funding and expenditure
The annual council meeting was held in March 1997 in Darwin.
The Department meets all administrative costs associated with the council meetings, except venue costs, the costs of State and Territory representation and any host Government official function.
Funding and secretariat services are administered by the Department's Ministerial and Communications Branch.
The council is purely a consultative body and has no power to distribute funds to other organisations or individuals.
Remuneration paid to members
No sitting fees are paid to members of the council, as the members participate in their official capacities.
2b. Standing Committee of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Meetings of the Commonwealth, State and Territory officials for immigration and ethnic affairs were first established in August 1946. A recommendation to rename the committee was adopted at the meeting in March 1994.Objectives, functions and activities
Meetings are held biannually; the first, on the day preceding the meeting of the Ministerial Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, discusses the same agenda, and the second, usually held in October, follows up action outstanding from the Ministerial Council meeting held early in the year, and prepares issues for the next council meeting.
The Secretariat invites (from the Commonwealth and State officials) items for the agenda of both the Meetings of Officials and Council of Ministers.
The meeting is chaired by the Secretary of the Department and is attended by the heads of the State and Territory authorities for ethnic and multicultural affairs, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), and the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). The head of the New Zealand Immigration Service attends as an observer.
Meetings were held in October 1996 in Sydney and in March 1997 in Darwin.
Funding and expenditure
The Department meets all administrative costs associated with the meetings, except venue costs, the costs of State and Territory representation and any host Government official function.
Funding and secretariat services are administered by the Department's Ministerial and Communications Branch.
Membership
No sitting fees are paid to participants, who attend in their official capacities as Government officials. Members are selected by participating governments. No maximum term of appointment has been set.
2c. Business Advisory Panel (BAP)
The Business Skills Assessment Panel was established by the Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs in October 1992.In May 1994 the Government renamed it the Business Skills Advisory Panel and it functioned until May 1996.
In May 1996 the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs established the Business Advisory Panel on an ongoing basis.
Objectives and functions
The Government established the panel to examine departmental delivery of services relating to all forms of business entry with a view to:
- identifying the needs and expectations of business clients, taking into account the views expressed by business to, and the recommendations made by the Deveson, Roach and Lin Committees of Review;
- advising the Minister and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) on how those needs and expectations might best be met, taking into account the portfolio's aim to "enhance the benefit to Australia from the entry of people".
Date of termination and review
The Government announced the establishment of the BAP in May 1997. No termination date was decided. Operations of the BAP will be reviewed at the end of 1997–98.
Activities, funding and expenditures
The BAP operates through a number of working parties conducting reviews, evaluations and assessments of Department programs and activities. The current working parties are:
- Business Centres
Provide input into identifying the needs of business in establishing Business Centres in certain DIMA Regional Offices; - Case advice
Provide case advice for both temporary and permanent entry subclasses; - Temporary Entry
Evaluate temporary entry reforms introduced following the review of Temporary Business Entry; - Permanent entry: Employer Nomination Scheme
Review the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS); - Permanent entry: Business Skills Class
Oversee the portfolio evaluation of Business Skills Class (BSC) against the class's stated objectives; - Permanent entry: Business Skills Class
Review the Established Business in Australia (EBA) business migration category (including the Independent Executive temporary entry feeder stream); - Permanent entry: Business Skills Class
Review the concept of designated investments in visa subclasses 131 and 844 (Investment-linked) in the Business Skills Class.
The BAP as a whole operates on an honourary basis (no sitting fees, cost of travel reimbursed). The working parties are remunerated at standard rates ($485 for Chair's involvement in a working party, $365 for members).
No working parties operated in 1996–97. The BAP as a whole met once in 1996–97. The only expenditure incurred during that year was $1 529 (reimbursement of travel costs to BAP inaugural meeting).
Membership, method of appointment and term of appointment
Chair:
| Mr Neville Roach | Chairman and CEO Fujitsu Limited |
| Ms Jenny Fletcher | Banking consultant | ||
| Dr Deborah Kuchler | Project Development Manager, Queensland Manufacturing Institute | ||
| Mr Mark Paterson | Chief Executive Officer, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry | ||
| Ms Pauline Mathewson | Partner, Coopers and Lybrand | ||
| Mr Peter McLaughlin | Partner, World Competitive Practices | ||
| Mr Maurice Newman | Chairman, Australia – Taiwan Business Council | ||
| Mr Jim Petrich | Northern Perspectives Pty Ltd | ||
| Mr John Schaap | Chair, Tourism Council of Australia |
These appointees have significant management responsibilities in the major industry sectors constituting DIMA's business clientele. Appointments were made by the Minister after approval by the Prime Minister.
Remuneration paid to members
See expenditure. No remuneration payments were made in 1996–97.
2d. National Multicultural Advisory Council
The National Multicultural Advisory Council was established by the former Government in July 1994. All appointments were for a three year period.In June 1997, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs announced a 'new look' council, with new membership and terms of reference.
Objectives and functions
The council's terms of reference require it to advise the Minister on policies for further enhancing Australia's unique culturally and linguistically diverse society. The council is to:
Develop a report to the Minister which recommends on a policy and implementation framework for the next decade, that is aimed at ensuring that cultural diversity is a unifying force for Australia. The report should:
- articulate the guiding principles and unifying values that underpin the policy; and
- identify elements of a policy framework and implementation strategy (including any impediments in the current policy framework and nomenclature) which will contribute to broad community support for, and understanding of, these principles and values; and enhancing national unity through acceptance by Australians of both the diversity and the common structures of Australia.
Consider and provide advice to the Minister on the policy implications of Australia's linguistic and cultural diversity in significant forthcoming events including the Centenary of Federation and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Provide advice and report on other specific matters referred to it by the Minister.
The Government announced the Council on 30 June 1997. Appointments are for a three year period.
Membership, method of appointment and term of appointment
Council members are:
| Mr Neville Roach | Chair | ||
| Mr Randolph Alwis | Member | ||
| Mr Iftikhar Aziz Chaudhry | Member | ||
| Bishop David Cremin | Member | ||
| Ms Ann Duffield | Member | ||
| Mr Angelo Hatsatouris OAM | Member | ||
| Emeritus Professor Laksiri Jayasuriya AM | Member | ||
| Dr Chandran Kukathas | Member | ||
| Ms Peggy Lau-Flux | Member | ||
| Dr Colin Rubenstein | Member | ||
| Ms Evelyn Scott | Member | ||
| Dr My-Van Tran OAM | Member | ||
| Ms Agnes Whiten | Member | ||
| Dr Peter Wong AM | Member | ||
| Emeritus Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki AO CBE | Member |
Remuneration paid to members
No sitting fees are paid.
2e. Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council
The Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council was established by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on 4 April 1997.Objectives and functions
The Government established the Council to:
- advise the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on matters relating to the settlement of refugees, Humanitarian Program entrants and migrants. In particular:
- the appropriateness and adequacy of Commonwealth services, especially for refugees and Humanitarian Program entrants;
- priorities for attention within the National Integrated Settlement Strategy (NISS), with particular emphasis on improving coordination of service delivery for refugees and Humanitarian Program entrants;
- receive community feedback on implementation of council recommendations and evaluate the effectiveness of such action.
In addressing these issues, the council will:
- develop a work plan, agreed with the Minister, identifying priority issues to be addressed in the next twelve months, having regard to priorities identified elsewhere in the NISS framework and to the work of the National Multicultural Advisory Council (NMAC);
- contribute advice on the basis of personal expertise as individuals with either past or current involvement in the area of settlement of migrants, refugees and Humanitarian Program entrants.
Date of termination and review: February 2000
Membership, method of appointment and term of appointment
Members were appointed by Cabinet for three years (from March 1997 to February 2000) and they are:
Chair:
| Major General Warren Glenny AO RFD ED (Rtd) |
Members:
| Dr Mohammed Taha Alsalami | |||
| Mr Paris Aristotle | |||
| Mrs Ellen Goodman | |||
| Mrs Carmel Guerra | |||
| Mr Kevin Liston | |||
| Ms Kathryn Nguyen | |||
| Ms Margaret Piper | |||
| Mr Gerald Searle |
Ex-officio membership: None
Remuneration paid to members: Nil
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