Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Print this page Font size smaller Font size larger

Outcome 1 - Effectiveness measures and results

Table 3: Outcome 1 - Effectiveness measures and results
Measures Results
The extent to which Australia is economically, socially, and culturally enriched by migration and temporary entry
The extent to which entry of migrants results in a positive impact on living standards as measured by models of the economic impact of immigration. The continuation of the 2005-06 Migration Programme compared with no programme is estimated to deliver an increase in living standards in excess of $850 per person in around 20 years based on modelling by Econtech. Other recent modelling by the Productivity Commission and Econtech confirms the positive impact on living standards of additional skilled migration.
The extent of positive impact on the Australian Government Budget from immigration including long term entry as measured by models of the impact of immigration on the Australian Government Budget. Based on modelling by Access Economics, the Australian Government Budget could conservatively gain more than $2 billion over four years or $7 billion over 10 years from the 2005-06 Migration Programme outcome alone. If the programme was continued at the 2005-06 level, the cumulative benefit could exceed $5 billion over four years and $35 billion over ten years,other things being equal.
The extent to which migrants help to address skill shortages as measured by the percentage of Skill Stream principal applicants with an occupation with above average job prospects as indicated in the job survey reports produced by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Some 90 per cent of all Skill Stream principal applicants have skilled occupations (defined as ASCO Groups 1 to 4) and these occupations have (according to DEWR Australian Labour Market Update) good or very good future job prospects. Of the remaining 10 per cent, some would be coming under the Business Skills arrangements and others would be sponsored by employers. Within the Skill Stream we have increased the level of targeting to skill needs by giving priority to:

  • employer-sponsored visas
  • state/territory-sponsored migrants
  • migrants who have occupations listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

Collectively these three groups made up 59 per cent of the Skill Stream in 2005-06 compared to 27 per cent in 2004-05.
The extent to which migrants living in regional Australia are participating in the labour force, helping to address local skill shortages and intending to stay in the regions as measured by relevant surveys. The third Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA 3) conducted in late 2005, showed good employment outcomes for skilled migrants who had settled in regional areas and areas of low population growth. For example, 86 per cent of skilled principal applicants living in these areas were working after just six months in Australia, and only 7 per cent were unemployed. Of those who were working, 77 per cent were in a skilled occupation.

Around 80 per cent of these principal applicants indicated that they would stay in their current city or town for at least a year. Only 6 per cent said that they would move, and the remainder were not sure of their intentions.
The extent to which Australia is economically, socially, and culturally enriched by migration and temporary entry
The extent to which the labour market and income outcomes of recent migrants to Australia compare with those of other countries as measured by comparative studies of migrant policies and outcomes. Comparison of data from LSIA 3 with the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC) show that the labour market and income outcomes of recent migrants to Australia were superior.

After six months in the country, only 59 per cent of skilled primary applicants to Canada were employed, compared with 80 per cent for Australia. Similarly only 39 per cent of those coming to Canada on a family visa were working, compared with Australian figures of 49 per cent.

For Canada, the average earnings of skilled primary applicants are about 65 per cent of average weekly earnings, six months after arrival. In contrast, the average full-time earnings of skilled principal applicants of $1055 per week are comparable with the full-time Australian average of $1072 per week at the time of LSIA 3.

The extent to which overseas students trained in Australia access permanent residency through the General Skilled Migration category. In 2005-06 the outcome for Skilled Independents Onshore (the subclasses that are specifically for onshore students) was 15 383 principal applicants. This was an increase of 6.52 per cent over 2004-05.
The extent to which those former students who have gained a skilled visa are employed and are earning above average incomes for their field of study as measured by relevant surveys and the Graduate Destination Report produced by the Graduate Careers Council of Australia. The LSIA 3 shows that former overseas students aged less than 25 with a recent Bachelors degree from an Australian university had an unemployment rate of 8 per cent and median full-time earnings of $35 000 per year.

In comparison, the 2004 Graduate Destination Report shows that at a national level recent Bachelor degree graduates had median full-time earnings of $38 000 per year and an unemployment rate of 7 per cent among those seeking full-time work.
The extent to which convergence in the unemployment rates of migrants from English-speaking countries, non-English speaking countries, and people who are Australian born. Unemployment rates for all three groups have been converging in recent years, and this convergence stabilised over the year to May 2006 compared with the year to May 2005. The average monthly unemployment rate for migrants born in other than main English-speaking countries was 1.1 per cent higher than the Australia-born unemployment rate, compared with 0.9 per cent in the previous year. Unemployment rates for migrants born in mainly English-speaking countries have remained lower than for the Australian-born over the same period but the difference is a little smaller (1.1 per cent compared with 1.3 per cent in the previous year).
The extent to which Australia is economically, socially, and culturally enriched by migration and temporary entry
Extent to which visiting overseas students and tourists support sustainable growth in education and tourism service industries. Tourism and international education are two of the largest services export industries in Australia. We continue to implement client service strategies aimed at supporting sustainable growth in both areas, ensuring they gain maximum benefit from arrivals to Australia.

A record number of student visas were granted in 2005-06 (190 674), with a corresponding increase in the global approval rate (92.96 per cent in 2005-06 compared with 91.31 per cent in 2004-05). These positive trends are coupled with a decline in the student visa cancellation rate (3.64 per cent in 2005-06 compared with 4.66 per cent in 2004-05).

The approval rate for visitor visa applications also continues to increase. The approval rate for visitor visas in 2005-06 was 98.69 per cent. The non-return rate for visitors is now at a historically low rate (1.2 per cent).

We continue to support growth in both industries by developing new modes of service delivery, such as enhanced electronic lodgement processes, and engaging service delivery partners to increase the number of locations for lodgement of visa applications. We work closely with other government agencies and the bodies that represent both industries in developing and enhancing client services.

Diversity of nationalities as measured by the number of countries with more than 100 visas under the Migration and Humanitarian Programmes. Through the 2005-06 Migration Programme we issued 100 or more visas to 78 nationalities. Through the 2005-06 Humanitarian Programme we issued 100 or more visas to 15 nationalities.
Extent to which the settlement of Skill Stream migrants matches the needs of each state/territory as measured by the percentage of Skill Stream taken up by state-specific and regional migration programmes. In 2005-06 the outcome for state-specific regional migration initiatives was 27 488 people, representing 28.24 per cent of the Skill Stream outcome.
The extent to which there is adherence to Australian entry and stay requirements
Non-return rate for visitors relative to the approval rate for visitor applications. In 2005-06, the non-return rate has continued to decline to 1.20 per cent (compared with 1.22 per cent in 2004-05), while the approval rate for visitor visas has increased to 98.69 per cent (from 98.5 per cent in 2004-05). There has been a relative improvement on the relationship between visitor visa approval rates and non-return rates.
Proportion of visitors and other temporary entrants who apply for a protection visa. The percentage of temporary entrants who apply for protection visas has fallen from 0.11 percent in 2004-05 to 0.05 percent in 2005-06.
Decrease in unauthorised arrivals over time in the context of passenger movements. In 2005-06, 1 in 3128 non-Australian air passengers were refused entry on arrival compared with 1 in 3063 in 2004-05.
In support of border integrity, seek to make certain that detention of unlawful non-citizens is lawful, humane, and efficient to ensure availability for processing and removal where required. In 2005-06, we conducted several reviews of practices and procedures to ensure that detention of unlawful non-citizens was lawful, humane, and efficient. We introduced the role of Detention Review Manager, to provide an additional and mandatory level of scrutiny for all decisions relating to detention. We commissioned a review of the detention services contract and we are addressing matters arising from the recommendations of the subsequent Roche Report into the Detention Services Contract. These reforms have been progressively implemented so we can make certain that detention of unlawful non-citizens is humane and efficient Budget measures were announced in May 2006 to introduce revised operating models and to improve the amenity of the detention infrastructure and rationalise the network of DIMA facilities.
The extent to which public health and safety is protected through immigration screening
The incidence of tuberculosis relative to the percentage of overseas-born in the Australian population compared to the same ratio for other major developed countries. The table below demonstrates Australia's low rate of incidence of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the size of the overseas-born population. This indicates the success of Australia's health screening procedures for prospective migrants.

Country Population* (000's) O/S Born** Population % TB Cases*** Reported TB Rate*** (cases per 100 000) TB Cases as a % of O/S Born Population
Australia 20 111 23 1082 5 0.023
Canada 31 946 19.3 1572 5 0.025
France 60 200 10 5514 8 0.091
Germany 82 491 12.5 6583 7 0.063
Sweden 8994 12 461 5 0.042
UK 59 778 8.3 7584 12 0.152
US 293 655 12.3 14 517 5 0.04
Sources:

*OECD, Labour Force Statistics, 2005 edition available at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/62/38/35267227.pdf (NB Population figures for 2004)

**OECD: Counting Immigrants and Expatriates in OECD Countries: A New Perspective, November 2005 edition available at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/27/5/33868740.pdf

***WHO Report 2006: Global Tuberculosis Control (NB TB figures for 2004) available at http://www.who.int/entity/tb/publications/global_report/2006/pdf/full_report_correctedversion.pdf
The extent to which Australia's contribution to humanitarian migration is effectively delivered
The extent to which the Humanitarian Programme is delivered in line with government planning levels. We granted 14 144 visas against a planned programme of 13 000 new places and nominal available places of 12 339*; broken down as follows:

Category Available places Visa grant
Refugee 6019 6022
Special Humanitarian Program 5720 6836
Protection 600 1272
Temporary Humanitarian Program 0 14
  • Humanitarian Programme places can be managed flexibly across programme years with places able to be carried over to or brought forward from the next programme year. The 12 339 places available for use in the 2005-06 programme year are made up of 13 000 new places:
    • minus 789 places brought forward for use in the 2004-05 programme year
    • plus 86 places for offshore visas granted in the 2003-04 programme year but not taken up
    • plus 42 temporary protection visa (TPV) places re-credited to the programme due to TPV holders departing Australia during 2004-05.
The extent to which the Humanitarian Programme is globally accessible. In 2005-06 visas were granted to offshore humanitarian entrants of 42 nationalities across three continents, reflecting the broadly accessible nature of Australia's programme.

We had officers placed in a wide range of locations (including Africa, the Middle East, South West Asia, and South East Asia) working closely with local representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure cases were referred that were appropriate for resettlement in Australia.
The extent to which Australia's contribution to humanitarian migration is effectively delivered
The extent to which the Humanitarian Programme is aligned to international resettlement priorities as determined in consultation with the UNHCR and the Australian community. The size and composition of the Humanitarian Programme is decided by the government each year following formal and extensive consultations. These include:

  • inter-governmental consultations
  • an invitation from the Minister to state and territory leaders and their opposition counterparts to provide submissions
  • a submission, funded by us, from the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) incorporating the views of its member organisations
  • consultations with peak refugee and humanitarian bodies
  • advice from the UNHCR.

The composition of the Humanitarian Programme is guided by, and broadly aligned with, the priorities identified by the UNHCR, the RCOA, and other peak refugee and humanitarian organisations.

The level of community awareness of the Humanitarian Programme. We have developed a communications strategy to provide consistent and accurate public information on the Humanitarian Programme. In 2005-06, we undertook a range of activities to implement the strategy. We organised community and media events designed to raise the profile of the Humanitarian Programme and the understanding of the background of humanitarian entrants, including:

  • our participation in Refugee Week in October 2005, and UN World Refugee Day on 20 June 2006
  • the celebration of 100 000 arrivals in the past decade
  • Harmony Day celebration of the Humanitarian Programme at an Adelaide school
  • a soccer training event for refugee children
  • a range of media releases prepared on issues relating to the Humanitarian Programme
  • our participation in community consultations, seminars and conferences that focused on the Humanitarian Programme.
The extent to which Australia contributes to international resettlement policy and operational developments. Australia contributes to international resettlement policy and operational developments by working with like-minded countries to achieve more efficient use of resettlement, participating actively in UNHCR governing bodies and in the annual UNHCR Tripartite Resettlement Consultations. Australia took a key role in an initiative that saw the UNHCR undertake a major upgrade of its resettlement operations in 2005-06.
Extent to which Australia contributes to international efforts to address the plight of refugees and other people of concern and meets its international protection obligations
Levels of support for the international protection framework as measured by the level of Australia's contribution to international resettlement, Australia's representation in key international forums, and effectiveness of implementing domestic protection legislation. Australia continued to play a major role in key international forums on promoting practical solutions to international protection problems and in seeking solutions for refugees that support managed humanitarian movement, where possible.

During the year, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Senator Amanda Vandstone met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Antonio Guterres, and visited refugees in locations in India and Thailand.

Australia was represented at senior official level at the Executive Committee of the UNHCR, in bilateral dialogue on these issues with like-minded countries, and with the European Commission (EC). Australia was also represented at senior official level in a range of other UNHCR forums and at meetings of bodies such as the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on Asylum, Refugee, and Migration Policies and the Asia-Pacific Consultations (APC) on Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Migrants.

Australia continues to operate one of the three largest humanitarian resettlement programmes in the world and maintains an effective onshore protection system.

  DIMA home | Contact DIMA | Privacy Information | Copyright | Disclaimer