DIMIA Annual Report 2001-02
SOCIAL OUTCOMES FOR MIGRANTS
'Migrants come to Australia for positive reasons that are related mainly to the desire to join family already here, or to enjoy the greater opportunities, the uncrowded, unpolluted, attractive environment and the delightful climate. They appreciate also the peaceful, friendly and democratic civil life…'
Professor Sue Richardson, National Institute of Labour Studies
The economic benefits of migration to Australia are an important measure of the success of Outcome One programs, but so too is the level of satisfaction of the migrants themselves once they have arrived here.
In 2001-02 Professor Sue Richardson sought to discover more about the levels of satisfaction of new migrants by analysing data from the Longitudinal Study of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA).
'…the efforts of the migrants and of their host country are combining to produce very commendable outcomes for the migrants. This is no doubt assisted by the generally high levels of information about Australia that migrants have before arrival.'
Professor Richardson
Professor Richardson has found that the great majority of migrants (90 per cent) demonstrate high levels of satisfaction with their lives in Australia. The most satisfied of all were from two very different groups - humanitarian and business migrants.
Professor Richardson also found that recent migrants have done extremely well in obtaining jobs and earning an adequate income, which is reflected in the rapid achievement of generally satisfactory standards of living.
SUPPORTING KEY EXPORT INDUSTRIES
Australia's immigration arrangements also play a very valuable role in supporting key export industries including education, tourism, health care and international conference management.
DIMIA operates a number of highly targeted programs under Outcome One to facilitate the entry of the consumers of these industries.
Overseas students, for example, make a significant contribution to Australia by internationalising our education industry, creating jobs and producing export income. DIMIA seeks to balance growth in the overseas student program with the need to ensure the integrity of Australia's immigration arrangements.
In 2001-02 a record 151,900 overseas student visas were granted, a four per cent increase over the previous year.
In addition to the financial growth of the education industry, this record number of students also contributed to the development of trade and commercial links and the promotion of goodwill and understanding between Australia and the students' home countries.
Tourism is also strongly supported by DIMIA programs that facilitate entry but deter the abuse of this form of entry.
In 2001-02, 3,070,670 visitor visas were granted to tourists. International tourism to Australia continued to be a major contributor to Australia's total export earnings.
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program also enables young visitors from overseas to combine work and tourism for their own benefit and for the benefit of Australia. This program has been highly successful since its introduction in the mid-1970s, expanding to approximately 85,360 places in 2001-02.
Apart from the strong cultural benefits, research shows that working holiday makers have a positive effect on the Australian economy.
The WHM program boosts tourism and benefits industries that rely heavily on casual labour at peak times, particularly the hospitality, horticultural and rural industries.
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)
The APEC Business Mobility Group meets three times a year in a host APEC economy.
Australia continued to manage the APEC Business Travel Card, in which 13 APEC economies now participate.
The APEC Business Travel Card provides pre-clearance for card holders to enter the other participating member economies on a multiple entry basis for up to three years with a stay of at least two months on each entry.
Travel Card holders can also use special departure and arrival lanes at airports in participating economies.