DIMIA Annual Report 2002-03
OUTCOME ONE ADMINISTERED ITEMS
Allowance for Persons on Temporary Visas in the Humanitarian Program
Performance Information
| MEASURES | RESULTS | |
| Allowances for Persons on Temporary Visas in the Humanitarian Program | Quantity: Up to 2,800 people assisted (onshore processing). Up to 2,300 people assisted (offshore processing). |
250 people assisted. 314 people assisted. |
| Quality: Payments are made in accordance |
Payments were made in accordance with eligibility criteria. with eligibility criteria. |
Objective
To provide a cash allowance to Temporary Protection visa (TPV) and Temporary Secondary Movement visa holders on their release from detention, or on arrival from overseas.
Description
This payment is intended to support the Temporary Humanitarian visa holders until their first Centrelink special benefits payment comes through, usually taking up to seven days.
This payment is intended for Onshore Temporary Protection visa holders and for persons granted Offshore Temporary Secondary Movement visas (Subclasses 447 and 451).
The amount provided is based on the Centrelink emergency payment equivalent.
This allowance is means tested for those persons who hold TPVs.
In 2002-03 the overall expenditure was $29,000.
Analysis of Performance
Two hundred and fifty TPV holders received cash allowance assistance in 2002-03, in comparison with 3,054 TPV holders in 2001-02.
This 91 per cent reduction is due to the significant reduction in the number of TPVs granted in 2002-03, in line with the reduction in unauthorised arrivals.
Three hundred and fourteen persons resettled from overseas received this cash allowance in 2002-03.
This number comprised 140 Subclass 447 visa holders and 174 Subclass 451 visa holders.
Contribution to the Secretariat for The Inter-Governmental Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies
Performance Information
| MEASURES | RESULTS | |
| Contribution to the Secretariat for Inter-Governmental
Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies |
Quantity: Australia's funding contribution is provided in full and on time. |
Australia's contribution of $98,000 was paid in full and on time. |
| Quality: Extent to which secretariat provides effective forum for information exchange. |
Apart from its ongoing work on information exchange on topics of interest to member states through distribution of documentation, plenary meetings, working groups and workshops, in 2002-03, at the request of the chair for that year, the secretariat focussed on facilitating discussions and information on registration systems to enable verification of identity of applicants (including the role of biometric data) and on proposals for new international approaches to managing processing of asylum seekers and refugees. The range of discussions supported by the secretariat was in accordance with Australia's priorities and Australia participated actively in these discussions. |
Objective
To support the achievement of Australia's policy objectives in the area of promoting managed migration, the prevention of illegal migration and people smuggling and the development of an effective system of international protection.
Description
During 2002-03 Australia contributed $98,000 toward the administrative costs of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
The IGC is an informal, non-decision-making forum established in 1985 (with an independent secretariat established in 1991), to provide an avenue for participating governments to exchange information, consult and develop innovative policy approaches on refugee, asylum and migration issues.
The IGC currently comprises 16 participating states in Western Europe, North America and Australia.
Analysis of Performance
Australia's contribution to the administrative costs of the IGC supported key activities such as information exchange, maintenance of databases and the production of reports.
The IGC also facilitated formal liaison between high-level officials from participating states through its annual Full Round of Consultations and the Mini Full Round.
The focus of the 2003 Full Round was discussion of new approaches to management of asylum seeker caseloads in Europe and elsewhere.
There were also a number of IGC working groups and workshops on specific issues.
These meetings provided valuable opportunities for executive level officials who work on these issues to exchange information and ideas with colleagues in other participating states.
Working groups have regular (annual or biannual) meetings and currently comprise country of origin information, data, return/transit, and smuggling/trafficking.
Workshops are one off meetings which concentrate on specific areas of interest.
During the year there were workshops on technology, resettlement, interception, smuggling, cohort data, registration and specific asylum caseloads of interest to IGC participants.
In addition to Australian representation at workshops and working groups,
Australian delegations also attended Full Round meetings in Geneva in December 2002 and Antwerp in April 2003.
Work plans of the IGC are regularly evaluated by participating states at the Mini Full Round and Full Round consultations and the senior officials steering group meeting.