Output 1.5 - Offshore asylum seeker management
Highlights
By 30 June 2006, a total of 1547 people had been accommodated in offshore processing centres (OPCs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and in Nauru. The process of resolving the individual situations of asylum seekers started shortly after the establishment of OPCs in September/October 2001. Their individual claims for refugee protection were considered in some cases by our officers and in others by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Fifty-five per cent of the caseload had been resolved by the end of 2002 and by the end of 2003 and 2004 the proportions increased to 81 and 96 per cent. The process was effectively completed on 1 November 2005, when 25 OPC residents in Nauru were brought to Australia.
In 2005-06, 32 Nauru OPC residents were resettled in Australia -18 as refugees and 14 as non-refugees under humanitarian programmes. People determined to be refugees and resettled during 2005-06 had been reassessed by us. No OPC resident found not to be in need of protection returned voluntarily to their country of origin or to a third country during 2005-06.
Australia's approach to resettlement priorities was based on a staged process in which consideration was given to family links and people of particular humanitarian concern. From April 2002 to November 2005, a number of temporary visa subclasses were used to facilitate the resettlement of OPC residents to Australia.
Table 42: OPC residents resettled to Australia 2002-05 by visa subclass
| Visa Subclasses | Number granted |
| 451 Secondary Movement Relocation (Temporary) | 293 |
| 447 Secondary Movement Offshore Entry (Temporary) | 284 |
| 449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) | 3 |
| 785 Temporary Protection | 34 |
| 100 Spouse | 1 |
| TOTAL | 615 |
There were no residents in an OPC at 30 June 2006: 1062 had been resettled, mainly to Australia and New Zealand, but also to Sweden, Canada, Denmark, and Norway. There were 482 who had returned voluntarily to their countries of nationality, mainly to Afghanistan; and one person died of natural causes. There were two men who could not be resettled to Australia because they had received adverse security assessments and whose long-term situations were being resolved from Nauru. They had moved into independent accommodation outside the OPC and were being supported by us.
Figure 44: Outcomes for OPC residents
The government had signalled publicly on 13 April 2006 that it planned for any future designated unauthorised arrivals in Australia to be processed offshore, preferably in Nauru. Work was underway at 30 June 2006 to reactivate the Nauru OPC from its previously mothballed condition. The Manus OPC remained in a mothballed state as a contingency against future arrivals.
1.5.1 Other countries
Objective
The objective of this programme is to facilitate the effective operation and management of offshore processing centres (OPC) for asylum seekers in third countries.
Table 43: Performance information - Other countries
| 2005-06 Measures | Results |
| Quality | |
| Offshore Processing Centres in Manus and Nauru are maintained so as to allow the peak accommodation of up to 2500 asylum seekers to be achieved quickly | Offshore Processing Centres (OPCs) in PNG (Manus) and Nauru were maintained as contingency facilities; in PNG (Manus) for the whole programme year and in Nauru from mid-November 2005 with the departure of the last residents. |
| Care of Offshore Processing Centre residents provided in accordance with agreed IOM/DIMA standards | During the 2005-06 programme year, 34 persons were accommodated at the Nauru OPC. The level of service and care provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) met our expectations as outlined in the Assurance Framework agreed between us and IOM. |
Description
Effective support is provided to allow people in offshore processing centres to be appropriately accommodated, cared for, and given the opportunity for any asylum claims to be considered.
Analysis of Performance
The Offshore Processing Centres in Nauru and PNG (Manus) have been effective in delivering offshore asylum seeker processing. The centres are managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the invitation of the governments of Nauru and PNG.
Memorandums of Understanding with Nauru and PNG provide for the accommodation of up to 2500 people - 1500 in Nauru and 1000 in PNG (Manus). Initial agreements between Australia and the governments of Nauru and PNG signed in 2001 have been remade and extended on a number of occasions. Current arrangements with both governments are in place to 30 June 2007.
We maintained a liaison presence in Nauru to facilitate management interactions on the ground and to enable quick coordinated responses to operational matters, such as medical evacuations. This presence, combined with inter-agency coordination meetings that we hosted, resulted in a high level of cooperation between the many stakeholders involved in the various aspects of OPC management.
At 30 June 2006 there were no asylum seekers residing in OPCs and work was underway to reactivate the Nauru OPC from its previously mothballed condition. The PNG (Manus) OPC remained in a mothballed state as a contingency against future arrivals.
1.5.2 Offshore territories
Objective
The objective of this programme is to facilitate the effective management and operations of IDCs in offshore territories.
Table 44: Performance information - Offshore territories
| 2005-06 Measures | Results |
| Quality | |
| Persons in offshore territories provided with appropriate accommodation, cared for, and given the opportunity for any asylum claims to be considered | Accommodation, health, and education resources were provided for all asylum seekers detained at the Christmas Island IDC while their claims were assessed. |
Description
We provide support for the management of unauthorised boat arrivals in offshore territory processing centres and facilitate appropriate accommodation and care.
Analysis of performance
The immigration detention centre (IDC) on Christmas Island has capacity for 104 people with contingency accommodation for another 104 people. Following a detailed design development process, construction began in February 2005 of a new and permanent IDC. Site preparation and service works have been completed and the laying of concrete slabs, erection of structural steel work, and installation
of wall sheeting and roofing material is underway. Completion is expected in 2006-07, and the new IDC will have the capacity for some 400 people in permanent accommodation, plus another 400 in contingency accommodation. While responsibility for the delivery of the new IDC is with the Department of Finance and Administration, we have the 'client' role and have participated in its design.
We continue to hold a section of the Cocos (Keeling) Island Quarantine Station as a short-term contingency centre, but this was not occupied during 2005-06.
For information about onshore detention operations see '1.3.5-Detention'.