DIMA Annual Report 1997-98
Sub-program 2.3: Unauthorised Arrivals
Objective
Description
Performance information
Financial and staffing resources summary
Performance outcomes
Objective
To prevent the entry into the Australian community of unauthorised arrivals and removal of those people who are not entitled to stay.
Description
This subprogram is responsible for the coordination of entry processing and removal of all unauthorised arrivals, regardless of mode of transport to Australia, including Indonesian illegal fishermen.
Policy development and program support is provided by the Compliance and Enforcement Branch. Entry processing of unauthorised boat arrivals is undertaken by teams of departmental officers mobilised from offices across Australia.
Performance information
Outcomes are measured against the:
- promptness and efficiency with which reception and processing of unauthorised boat arrivals occurs;
- timely removal of those unauthorised arrivals who are not entitled to stay; and
- reduction in the number of boats carrying persons who have no authority to enter Australia.
Financial staffing resources summary
1997–98 |
1997–98 |
1996–97 |
|
| Budgetary (cash) basis | |||
| Components of appropriations | |||
| Annual appropriations | |||
| Running costs | 14 029 |
4 639 |
n/a |
| Other program costs | 4 955 |
4 707 |
n/a |
| Total appropriations | 18 984 |
9 346 |
n/a |
| Less adjustments | 0 |
0 |
n/a |
| Total outlays | 18984 |
9 346 |
n/a |
| Total revenue | 0 |
0 |
n/a |
| Staffing | |||
| Staff years (actual) | 9 |
14 |
n/a |
Due to program restructures in both 1996–97 and 1997–98, sub-program figures for 1996–97 actuals are not meaningful for comparative purposes to 1997–98 figures. They have therefore not been included in this table.
[ Top Of Page ]Performance outcomes
(i) Reception and processing
Since 1989, 82 unauthorised boats have arrived in Australia. Of these, 36 originated from the People's Republic of China (PRC). More recently, both the source and composition of unauthorised boat arrivals has changed.
Of the 13 boats which arrived in 1997–98, one was from the PRC, one from PNG and 11 were from Indonesia. The boats originating from Indonesia carried third country nationals: 117 people from the Middle East, North Africa, Southern Asia and the People's Republic of China.
The number of people arriving by boat without authority has declined by 43 per cent on the number who arrived in 1996–97.
The points of arrival for those boats were:
- Northern Territory – 34 people on three boats;
- Ashmore Reef – 35 people on five boats;
- Torres Strait – 30 people on one boat;
- Christmas Island – 25 people on one boat; and
- Western Australia – 35 people on three boats.
Arrangements were made to escort the boats into port and for on-arrival reception. The boat people were taken into Immigration detention on arrival for entry processing. The time taken for entry processing was maintained at three days.
During 1997–98, 873 Indonesian fishermen were apprehended by Australian fisheries authorities and detained under the Migration Act 1958. These people are investigated by the Australian fisheries authorities and, where appropriate, prosecuted for breaches of the fisheries legislation. A total of 819 Indonesian fisherman departed Australia during this time of whom 473 were removed by DIMA. 34 remain in detention.
In 1997–98 44 stowaways were reported compared with 32 in the previous year.
[ Top Of Page ](ii) Timely removal
Those boat people who did not make any claims which, prima facie, may have engaged Australia's protection obligations were kept in Immigration detention pending their removal to their countries of origin, as required under the Migration Act 1958.
Of the 159 people who arrived without authorisation on boats, 69 people (44 per cent), were removed. The average length of time between arrival and removal was 18 days.
Australia and the PRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in January 1995, concerning the return of SinoVietnamese refugees who had previously been resettled in the PRC. Under the terms of the MOU, SinoVietnamese refugees who have been permanently settled in the PRC, and who arrive in Australia by unauthorised boat, are returned to the PRC after their identity has been verified. The MOU remains in force.
The majority of the 329 people who were removed in 1997–98 (78 per cent) were nationals of the People's Republic of China. Most of these people did not raise claims which, prima facie, may have engaged Australia's protection obligations. It was therefore possible to return them to China in a relatively short time.
As at 30 June 1998, 14 people who arrived by boat without authorisation during 1996–97 were in immigration detention, compared with 201 at 30 June 1997.
[ Top Of Page ](iii) Reduction in boat numbers
Thirteen boats carrying a total of 159 people arrived in Australia without authorisation, compared with 13 boats carrying 365 unauthorised arrivals in 1996–97.
Of the 11 Indonesian fishing vessels involved in bringing unauthorised arrivals to Australia since July 1997, the master (and more recently the crew) were prosecuted successfully in nine cases. In two unauthorised boat arrivals, the vessel departed after the passengers were disembarked.
Since the signing of the MOU concerning the return of SinoVietnamese, the number of their arrivals without authorisation by boat has fallen from 845 in 1994–95 to none in 1996–97 and none in 1997–98.
There are ongoing exchanges of information with officials from the PRC and Indonesia concerning the activities of people who may be arranging illegal travel to Australia. These exchanges can result in boats being prevented from departing for Australia or, where they have already left, in early warning of their arrival which enables appropriate reception arrangements to be put in place.
Information on those organising unauthorised boats is passed to relevant authorities in their countries of origin to assist with possible prosecution.
The Department is an active participant in international forums examining the problems of people trafficking and irregular people movements, with a view to engendering regional cooperation and solutions on these issues.