DIMA Annual Report 1999-2000
Review by the Secretary
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) always has a full agenda. Nation-building work is our core business - as reflected in our mission: 'Australia, enriched through the entry and settlement of people, valuing its citizenship and appreciating its cultural diversity.' It is work which for DIMA officers can be on any one day difficult, diverse and rewarding.
A range of particular challenges faced the portfolio in 1999-2000, including preparations for the Olympic Games; managing safe havens and, where appropriate, departure arrangements for Kosovars and East Timorese; dealing with the many issues arising from an unprecedented number of unauthorised boat arrivals; and developing and implementing new technology to service clients.
There are separate articles in this report on the safe havens and on the surge in unauthorised boat arrivals.
I take this opportunity to record particular appreciation of the myriad efforts of many Australians involved in the extension of safe haven to Kosovars and East Timorese. Representatives of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and agencies; private and voluntary sector agencies; and many individuals participated in this process.
The Department's efforts to deal with the causes and effects of illegal movements were part of broader whole-of-government activities. These involved many areas of DIMA, as we supported the Minister in actions to engage with international organisations, refugee receiving countries and countries of first asylum and transit; to develop Australian legislation and other arrangements; to develop detention infrastructure, manage the reception centres and process the arrivals; and to mount an overseas information campaign.
Stephanie Pettersen, champion international body border and
former Brazilian, applied for Australian citizenship
Special arrangements were developed and tested to ensure smooth entry of thousands of extra travellers expected to visit Australia for the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Department also developed plans for showcasing Australian multiculturalism at the Games and for contributing to an extensive government media effort.
Non-humanitarian entry and stay
The Department successfully delivered the Government's non-humanitarian migration program. Some 70,200 migrants were visaed against a target of 70,000. As planned, over 50 per cent of these were in the skill stream.
Key features of the program in 1999-2000 included:
- a new points test for skilled migrants favouring migrants with skills in demand, including information technology skills
- amendments to the Employer Nomination Scheme and Business Skills categories to increase Australia's competitiveness for these migrants
- policy changes to enable eligible overseas students who have studied in Australia to migrate permanently on the basis of their skill
- expansion of a processing centre in Adelaide to clear a backlog of skilled migrant points-tested applications
- continued emphasis on encouraging State/Territory governments to take advantage of migration categories designed to help migrants settle outside the major capital cities, particularly in rural and regional Australia
- preparation of proposed new arrangements to enable parents to join their children in Australia while ensuring this does not place an unsustainable burden on Australia's health and welfare systems, and
- continued focus on maintaining the integrity of the program.
The Department supported the Minister's annual community consultations on the migration program. These consultations provide a highly valued source of information for policy development and improving service delivery to clients. The consultations again included public and face-to-face meetings in capital cities and regional centres in all states and territories.
Temporary entry to Australia continued to rise in importance. Compared with 1998-99, there were major increases in temporary entry in 1999-2000 including:
- a nine per cent increase in student visas (predominantly for long-term study in Australia)
- a seven per cent increase in visitor visas
- a 14 per cent increase in working holiday visas, and
- an eight per cent increase in other temporary residence visas, including long-term skilled business entry.
In addition, Australia's Electronic Travel Authority, the most advanced and streamlined travel authority system in the world, was extended to residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The rising volume of temporary entry to Australia is putting increasing pressure on the Department's resources and staff and we are looking to technology, including the Internet, to help manage this demand, cost-effectively. Information and application forms are already available on the DIMA web site and the number of visits to the site is growing.
The Department continued to experience high levels of fraud in applications from some parts of the world. Managing this caseload required continued emphasis on bona fides testing to achieve high levels of integrity. The Airline Liaison Officer (ALO) network, which places experienced DIMA officers at overseas airports to advise airlines on the genuineness of travel documents and passenger bona fides, was extended.
Refugee and humanitarian entry and stay
Against a target of 12,000 places the Department delivered the refugee and humanitarian program with 9,960 visas granted. The balance of places was brought forward into the 2000-01 program year to meet the expected need for places onshore.
Of the 9,960 people granted visas, 7,502 were resettled from offshore, 1,584 were given permanent protection visas and 874 were given temporary protection visas.
Priority for resettlement was given to refugees and others suffering human rights abuses in the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East and Africa.
The temporary protection visa (TPV) category was put in place for unauthorised arrivals who were found to engage Australia's protection obligations.
Under the Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme, publicly funded application assistance was provided to 4,343 asylum seekers in detention.