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About the Department

DIMA Annual Report 2000-01

Portfolio and departmental overview

Role, mission and tasks

The Portfolio consists of:

  • the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA)

  • two statutory agencies - The Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT)

  • Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)

  • one company limited by guarantee - the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) Limited

  • the following non-statutory bodies - the Ministerial Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Standing Committee of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Council for Multicultural Australia, the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council, the Australian Citizenship Council, the Business Advisory Panel and the Immigration Detention Advisory Group.

DIMA's mission is Australia, enriched through the entry and settlement of people, valuing its citizenship and appreciating its cultural diversity. The department's core business is the managed entry of people to Australia, the successful settlement of migrants and refugees enabling them to participate equitably in society and promotion of the benefits of citizenship and cultural diversity.

The tasks assigned to the department in the Administrative Arrangements Orders are:

  • migration, including refugees, and temporary entry

  • citizenship

  • ethnic affairs

  • post-arrival arrangements for migrants, other than migrant child education

  • multicultural affairs.

The outputs and services provided by the department overseas and in Australia include:

  • visa services for migrants, temporary entrants (e.g. skilled workers), business visitors, students and tourists, including identifying those entitled to lawful entry into Australia, prior to arrival

  • processing people moving into and out of Australia through Australian air and sea ports

  • assessing the character, health and bona fides of applicants for entry into Australia

  • identifying those entitled to the protection of Australia on humanitarian or other grounds and helping Australia fulfil its international obligations towards refugees and other humanitarian needs

  • locating, detaining and removing unlawful non-citizens

  • identifying and reducing people smuggling and other immigration malpractice and fraud

  • increasing the ability of migrants to participate in Australian life, through settlement programs, including English-language tuition and translating and interpreting services

  • promoting the value of citizenship and making decisions on acquisition and loss of citizenship under the Australian Citizenship Act 1948

  • contributing to maintaining and further enhancing appreciation of Australia's cultural diversity within a framework of national unity.

Tribunals

The Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) aims to provide fair, just, economical, informal and quick review of certain migration, temporary residence and visitor visa decisions.

The Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) aims to provide fair, just, economical, informal and quick
review of refused applications for protection visas.

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