DIMA Annual Report 1998-99
Sub-program 2.4: Border Control
Performance outcomes (continued)
(iv) Visa issue improvements
Globally, more than 80 per cent of short-term visitors and business people now obtain Electronic Travel Authority (ETAs) for travel to Australia rather than traditional visa labels. ETA arrangements are available to passport holders in 29 countries.
They were implemented for passport holders from France, Spain and the Vatican City on 1 July 1998. (The Governments of France, Spain, Japan and the Republic of Korea extended visa waiver arrangements to Australian citizens during 1998-99 on the basis of the availability of ETA arrangements for their citizens).
The administrative arrangements necessary to implement the Government's decision to expand ETA arrangements to residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan from 1 July 1999 were finalised during 1998-99.
Key facts are that:
- more than 4.5 million ETAs have been issued since introducing the system in September 1996; and
- in countries where ETAs are available, on average 95 per cent of all visitors and short-term business entrants are issued with them.
ETA numbers by main country by per cent
ETAs (subclasses 976, 977 and 956) as a percentage of tourist and short term business entry visas (subclasses 976, 977 and 956 plus 676 and 456) July 1998-June 1999.
| Country | Percent (%) |
| Andorra | 100 |
| Austria | 71.8 |
| Belgium | 97.1 |
| Brunei | 90.6 |
| Canada | 98.6 |
| Denmark | 100 |
| Finland | 100 |
| France | 94.3 |
| Germany | 94.8 |
| Greece | 66.5 |
| Iceland | 100 |
| Ireland | 98.6 |
| Italy | 97.9 |
| Japan | 98 |
| Korea | 99 |
| Luxembourg | 100 |
| Malaysia | 97.8 |
| Malta | 57.6 |
| Netherlands | 96.9 |
| Norway | 100 |
| Singapore | 95.2 |
| Spain | 98.1 |
| Sweden | 100 |
| Switzerland | 100 |
| UK | 98.8 |
| USA | 97.1 |
| Average | 97.1 |
| In other countries | 18.2 |
| TOTAL | 79.4 |
Performance outcomes
(v) Passenger Processing
In conjunction with the Australian Customs Service, passenger clearance times at international airport primary lines improved dramatically.
Introducing the revised incoming passenger card and ceasing of stamping of Australian passports during July resulted in average individual processing times falling from 52 seconds in 1997-98, to 42 seconds in 1998-99.
As well, the number of passengers cleared within 30 minutes of arrival also improved from 95.5 per cent in 1997-98 to 97.9 per cent in 1998-99.
There was a 4 per cent increase in total passenger traffic to 15.4 million (14.9 million in 1997-98). The number of passengers processed per average staff year was 185 855 (184 236 in 1997-98). Referrals to immigration airport inspectors of cases requiring closer examination increased to 211 849 (172 605 in 1997-98).
Passenger documentation
New incoming and outgoing passenger cards were introduced on 1 July 1998. The new incoming document replaced the previous Incoming Passenger Card and the Travellers Statement.
The introduction contributed to improving passenger processing by around 20 per cent in time passengers spend with customs clearance officers.
This improvement will help facilitate passengers through international airports leading up to, and beyond, the 2000 Olympic/Paralympic Games.
Advance Passenger Information
Advance Passenger Information (API) has been identified as a strategy for the smooth handling of Australia's entry and border procedures up to, and beyond, the 2000 Games, and for strengthening border control.
The API incorporates passenger pre-clearance, accelerated immigration and customs passenger processing, and improved border control for all border agencies.
During 1998-99, API was captured for 18 per cent of passengers arriving at international airports under Advance Passenger Clearance arrangements.
DIMA's new platform for API is the Advance Passenger Processing system (APP) which interfaces with the Electronic Travel Authority system.
The APP is a fast passenger processing system which provides Australian border agencies with advance notice of the arrival of a passenger on a particular flight. The system offers many benefits to border agencies, airlines and passengers including:
- the facility for APP airlines to confirm the existence of a valid visa for those passengers requiring such authority to enter Australia, as well as the passport status of Australian and New Zealand travellers;
- providing information on all travellers on a flight, before disembarkation, allowing improved screening to all border and law enforcement agencies; and
- express lane clearance to the majority of passengers.
On 8 July 1998 the APP system was implemented for incoming passengers from Singapore by Singapore Airlines, and introduced by Air New Zealand on 27 April 1999.
Olympics
Within the Department, Olympic and Paralympic activities are managed through the Executive Olympic Planning Committee chaired by the Deputy Secretary.
Coordination is undertaken by the Olympics Coordination Section which also services the needs of the Minister, Ministerial and Parliamentary Committees, sub-committees, working groups and related activities.
This Section also works closely with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to integrate department activities with those of other Commonwealth agencies.
Olympic contact officers have been appointed in each state office and at each department office overseas. In New South Wales, the Olympic Coordinator works with SOCOG to provide advice on visa, entry and other departmental issues.
DIMA participates with other Commonwealth agencies in the Visitor Information Campaign, designed to educate visitors about Australian entry requirements in the leadup to and during the Games.
Products included in the campaign are a visitor information booklet available in multiple languages at Australian overseas missions, an Internet website containing entry information in multiple languages, and a video targeting national Olympic/Paralympic committees.
DIMA is responsible for maintaining the Internet website, which is registering an increasing number of visits per week.
Key Olympic issues for DIMA are the entry and checking of non-citizens in the lead up to, and during, the Games. To manage the entry of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, officials and other Olympic Family members at the time of the Games, the Department and SOCOG computer systems will be linked.
During the year agreement was reached with SOCOG on the functionality and specifications of the system. The arrangement will ensure the efficient entry of Olympic Family members at the time of the Games, while maintaining border integrity.
In August 1998, the Australian National Audit Office released its report on Commonwealth Agencies' Preparations for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Seven recommendations concerned the Department. Five have been implemented and the remaining two will be implemented late in 1999.
The Joint Standing Committee on Migration is inquiring into Immigration Entry Arrangements for the Games. The Department made a submission to the inquiry and gave evidence in February 1999. It is expected that the Committee will report to Parliament by the end of 1999.
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Performance outcomes
(vi) Movement records
About 15.6 million records of passenger movements were processed for international travellers into and out of Australia in 1998-99, an increase of about 4.7 per cent on the 14.9 million processed in 1997-98.
The Department provides the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) with statistical information concerning people arriving in and departing from Australia.
These statistics are processed by the ABS for use including updating Census information and calculating the effects of population flows.
TRIPS sub-section
The Travel and Immigration Processing System (TRIPS) sub-section focuses on TRIPS data management, movement data access provisions and agreements, data matching operations, and movement records analysis reporting and production.