DIMA Annual Report 1998-99

Sub-program 4.2: Citizenship

Performance outcomes
(i) Citizenship enquiries, applications and conferrals

The national Citizenship Telephone Enquiry Line (CTEL) received 192 185 calls in 1998-99 an average of 16 015 calls per month. In 1997-98 a marked increase in the number of calls was attributed to the change in the application charge from $80 to $120 in January 1998. The total number of calls in 1997-98 was around 258 988 or 21 582 per month (in 1996-97 there were 205 000 calls or 17 000 per month). CTEL responds to citizenship inquiries from around Australia and distributes citizenship application kits to clients.

The introduction of a new computer processing system in December 1998 disrupted the production of many citizenship statistics for 1998-99, affecting their scope and timeliness. Those citizenship statistics not available at the time of printing of the annual report will be released when they become available.

Applications for the grant of Australian citizenship lodged in 1998-99 totalled 70 205, compared with 89 111 in 1997-98. Figures for recent years are shown below.

	Settler Arrivals 1	Citizenship applications2
1990-91	121 700
1991-92	107 400
1992-93	76 400	106 029
1993-94	69 800	93 727
1994-95	87 400	97 224
1995-96	99 100	102 144
1996-97	85 800	109 631
1997-98		89 111
1998-99		70 205
Note: 1) All persons (visaed and non-visaed) arriving in Australia with the intention of settling permanently in Australia. 'Settler arrivals' comprise, primarily, arrivals under the migration program and New Zealand citizens, who are not considered part of the migration program. 2) Permanent residents generally must reside in Australia for a minimum of two years before they are eligible to apply for Grant of Australian Citizenship.

The decline in applications in 1998-99 flows from reductions in the migration program in recent years and the decrease in the pool of eligible non-citizens throughout the decade.

Some 65 738 decisions on applications for grant of citizenship were made, including 64 238 approvals. Australian citizenship was conferred on 76 474 people (including children included in a parent's application).

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Performance outcomes
(ii) Improved character checks

Improvements were made to the on-line real-time citizenship character checks system through the electronic link with the Police Reference System maintained by the National Exchange of Police Information (NEPI). This provides national character checks for the Department for the purpose of assessing citizenship applications.

Improvements consisted largely of an expansion of the capacity of the system to accommodate clients with many names, single names, and clients without a full date of birth.

Performance outcomes
(iii) Enhanced client services

Under a contract with Australia Post, approximately 300 non-metropolitan Australia Post outlets conduct citizenship interviews on DIMA's behalf.

The arrangements particularly assist clients who are located in regional or remote parts of Australia who cannot easily reach DIMA offices. State Liaison Committees established as part of the contract to review and oversee the arrangements between DIMA and Australia Post.

Under the contract with Australia Post, a multi-media training package for Post Office staff was developed for the conduct of citizenship interviews at Australia Post outlets.

The package aims to develop the necessary competency and skills to conduct citizenship interviews and is available as a video and workbook, or a CD-ROM and workbook.

As forecast in the Annual Report for 1997-98, the former mainframe processing system, the Citizenship Automated System, was replaced under Phase 1 of the Integrated Client Service Environment (ICSE) as part of the DIMA-CSC Strategic Alliance.

Performance outcomes
(iv) Provision of citizenship policy advice to the Minister and other stakeholders

Accurate and timely citizenship policy advice, submissions and briefing material have been provided to the Minister and other stakeholders as required.

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Performance outcomes
(v) Australian Citizenship Council

The Australian Citizenship Council was established in August 1998 as an independent body to advise the Minister on contemporary issues relating to Australian citizenship. Council membership is as follows:

Chairman:

Sir Ninian Stephen KG., A.K., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.B.E., P.C., Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur (France)

Mrs Sallyanne Atkinson AO
Mr Mark Ella AM
The Hon Robert Ellicott QC
Ms Mirta Gonzalez
Archbishop Barry Hickey OAM
Professor Donald Horne AO
The Hon Gary Johns
Mr Bernard Kilgariff AM
Miss Tan Le
Ms Caryl McQuestin
Associate Professor Robert Manne
Ms Marilynne Paspaley
Professor Judith Sloan

The Council's Terms of Reference are:

The Australian Citizenship Council has been established as an independent body to advise the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on Australian citizenship matters that are referred to it by the Government.

Given that the 50^th Anniversary of Australian citizenship will occur on 26 January 1999, the Australian Citizenship Council's first task will be to provide advice to the Minister on appropriate arrangements for celebrating this occasion.

The Council is also to prepare and present a report to the Minister by the end of 1999 on:

• contemporary issues in Australian citizenship policy and law to be addressed as Australia moves into the new millennium; and
• how to promote increased community awareness of the significance of Australian citizenship for all Australians, including its role as a unifying symbol.

From time to time, the Australian Citizenship Council may also be given other tasks by the Minister relating to Australian citizenship matters.

To help prepare its report, in February 1999 the Council widely distributed an issue paper, Contemporary Australian Citizenship and called for submissions from the Australian community by 2 April 1999. The paper canvassed a wide range of issues relating to Australian citizenship policy and law and the promotion of community awareness of Australian citizenship.

More than 6000 copies were distributed to Federal and state and territory parliamentarians, local government associations and councils, industry and union organisations, ethnic and community organisations, Aboriginal reconciliation contacts, academics and others.

Media advertisements generated more than 250 requests for the issue paper, which is also available on the Department's Internet site. At June 1999, the Council had received 193 submissions, was considering the issues raised by the submissions, and had begun to prepare its report.

Since its establishment, the Council has provided advice to the Minister on arrangements for celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Australian citizenship.

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Performance outcomes
(vi) 50^th anniversary of Australian citizenship

The 50^th anniversary of the creation of the legal status of Australian citizen was celebrated on 26 January 1999. A range of celebrations and activities during the first half of the anniversary year encouraged all Australians to take pride in their citizenship and to encourage eligible permanent residents to take out Australian citizenship.

The celebrations are designed to involve all Australian citizens and encourage full participation in the Australian community, through a better understanding of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship and a commitment to shared Australian values.

As part of the celebrations, a 50^th anniversary logo, "MY Australia", was developed for use in association with all anniversary events, conveying the sense that Australian citizenship is for all Australians. Local councils have been invited to use the logo at their citizenship ceremonies.

To commemorate the first Australian citizenship ceremony on 3 February 1949, a function was held on 3 February 1999 at the original venue (the Albert Hall, Canberra), guests including two of the original seven men granted Australian citizenship in 1949.

A celebration kit, Australian Citizenship: A Sense of Belonging, was produced and 70 000 copies distributed to schools, local councils and various community groups around Australia. Its aim is to stimulate discussion on Australian citizenship in the community.

The kit contains information on a wide range of citizenship issues, such as what it means to be an Australian citizen and activities and ideas for schools, community groups and families to undertake in recognition of the 50^th anniversary of Australian citizenship. In addition, a 50^th anniversary website at: www.immi.gov.au/citizen50 was established.

Other activities to mark the 50^th anniversary included:

• sponsorship of the National Australia Day Council's Visions of Australia program of radio and television community service announcements, featuring messages from prominent Australians;
• release by Australia Post on 14 January 1999 of a commemorative stamp ;
• release and distribution of celebration products including memento pins and badges featuring the 50^th anniversary logo;
• release of the statistical booklet on citizenship Australian Citizenship: 1996 Census;
• sponsorship of a schools website competition and the National Schools History challenge - an essay and design competition for school children; and
• special affirmation ceremonies giving Australians, those born in Australia and overseas - the opportunity to reaffirm their Australian citizenship.

In January 1999, 130 000 copies of the booklet What it means to be an Australian Citizen were printed for distribution as part of the 50^th anniversary celebrations.

This booklet was developed to help prospective citizens gain information about citizenship values and the Australian way of life. It outlines the rules for acquiring and losing Australian citizenship, the responsibilities and privileges and a brief overview of Australian history and system of government. The booklet is given to Australian citizenship applicants at citizenship interviews.

Two of the first people to become Australian citizens at the first citizenship ceremony on 3 February 1949 were Mr Leon Durand and Mr Angelo Muguira. They are pictured here with Mr Francis Firebrace of the Yorta Yorta people at the celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship held at Albert Hall in Canberra in February.

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