Output 1.2 Refugee and humanitarian entry and stay
This output has two components:
1.2.1 Offshore Humanitarian Programme
1.2.2 Protection visas (onshore)
The Humanitarian Programme is an important element of Australia’s contribution to the system of international protection of refugees:
- the offshore component provides resettlement in Australia to people overseas who are in the greatest relative need of this durable solution
- the onshore component provides protection in Australia to people who engage Australia’s protection obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
Highlights
In 2006-07, 13 017 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Programme. This number included 11 186 visas granted under the offshore component and 1831 granted under the onshore component.
The total number of Humanitarian Programme visas granted was higher than the nominal 11 314 available places by 1703 grants. These additional places were brought forward from the 2007-08 programme in accordance with government policy which enables the programme to be managed flexibly.
The department has continued its strategic international engagement focussed on promoting the lawful and orderly movement of people and strengthening the international protection framework. The department actively contributed to regional and international forums and worked cooperatively with many governments in our region.
The key achievements for the Humanitarian Programme for 2006-07 include delivery of 13 017 visas, of which 46 per cent were granted to refugees under the offshore component and 14 per cent were Protection and other visas granted onshore. The remaining 40 per cent were Special Humanitarian Programme visas granted under the offshore component.
More than 16 per cent of refugee visas were granted to Woman at Risk cases, well ahead of the Australian Government’s nominal 10.5 per cent target of the refugee allocation.
For the onshore component of the Humanitarian Programme, there was an increase in the number of protection visa applications. Applications continued to be decided consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Refugees Convention and within a formal quality assurance framework which ensures that protection visa decisions are soundly based and consistent with policy and procedures. The quality assurance process continued to show a 99 per cent rate of overall compliance with all policy and processing requirements.
There was a continued improvement in finalising Protection visa applications within the 90 day timeframe. The vast majority of applications were finalised in that timeframe.
In 2006-07 there was an increase of more than 52 per cent in the number of ministerial intervention requests finalised compared to the previous year.
International Cooperation
During 2006-07, the department developed productive new working relationships with governments of other countries and international organisations and strengthened existing partnerships.
This strategic international engagement enabled the department to facilitate the lawful and orderly movement of people to Australia and strengthen protection for refugees and displaced populations throughout the world.
The department also continued to build a concerted front against people smuggling, people trafficking, terrorism and other transnational crime.
Activities during 2006-07 included:
- a visit by Minister Andrews to Indonesia, reinforcing Australia’s excellent operational cooperation with Indonesia
- hosting the annual Four Country Conference (Australia, Canada, UK, USA) which provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas on international best practice, including current border security issues
- a visit by the secretary to the USA to advance strategic cooperation on complex and diverse issues such as identity management and biometric technology, migration facilitation, citizenship, integration and international protection issues
- hosting the inaugural meeting of the Australia New Zealand Immigration Forum, which allowed both countries to further explore shared migration agendas, and participating in the meeting of Australia/New Zealand Trans-Tasman government chief executives to discuss strategic issues of mutual interest including population movement
- the former minister attended the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development in New York in September 2006.
The department also actively engaged in international protection issues, including:
- contributing to the development of a UNHCR Executive Committee conclusion on women and girls at risk, which will help to put in place key protection concepts for this vulnerable group
- supporting UNHCR’s work in the region, with particular emphasis on addressing protracted situations of displacement and the strategic use of resettlement
- participating in debate and discussions on emerging policy issues such as the framework for UNHCR’s increasing involvement in situations of internal displacement.
The department also contributed to global border security, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, through further strengthening border capacities of other countries. Examples include:
- furthering the design, implementation and support of an enhanced border alert system, known as the Enhanced CEKAL System, which will assist Indonesia to detect the movement of terrorists and other transnational criminals
- supporting the development and rollout of a border management system in Papua New Guinea; working with Vanuatu Immigration to review their border alert system; and installing a passport issuing system in Tuvalu
- facilitating the delivery of an extensive training programme on immigration intelligence and forensic document examination (to 16 countries)
- installing a state-of-the-art document examination laboratory in Thailand and upgrading the border network in Laos to enable 19 border checkpoints to track movements in real time.
There was also increased regional cooperation on border and migration management through:
- active support and participation at the Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference and its management board to set agendas for regional immigration cooperation initiatives in the Pacific
- engagement in the Bali Process on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and other related transnational crime and the Asia Pacific Consultations on refugees, displaced persons and migrants (APC). The latter included gaining the agreement of the APC to establish an Australian-funded position which will provide secretariat and operational support and facilitate enhanced administrative continuity for that process
- the hosting of a visit by the chair of the Inter-Governmental Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies (IGC), which provided an important opportunity to share Australian expertise on managed migration and to exchange perspectives on topical international issues
- participation in the trilateral counter-terrorism consultations with the USA and Japan.
The department also concluded a series of Memoranda of Understanding, including with:
- Indonesia to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation on migration and border control management
- Laos to serve as a framework for the computerisation and linking of Laos international border checkpoints
- Malaysia to enhance cooperation on migration management and the investigation of people smuggling
- the USA, the United Kingdom and Canada to provide a framework for joint efforts in respect of investigations relating to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The department also finalised a Mutual Assistance Arrangement with the USA for the resettlement of people in need of international protection.
DIAC-NGO Dialogue
The DIAC-Non Government Organisation Dialogue was held twice during 2006-07, in July 2006 and February 2007. The NGOs include national peak bodies such as the Refugee Council of Australia, Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists, the Australian Red Cross and the National Council of Churches. The aim of the dialogue is to develop and further strengthen relationships between the department and peak NGOs who are stakeholders in the management of the Humanitarian Programme.
It also provides an opportunity to receive feedback on services delivered and to discuss any issues of concern to NGOs.
In 2006-07 a forum was held on world refugee issues with those peak NGOs with an interest in attending the UNHCR’s annual executive committee meeting to assist in reaching an Australian Government position for the meeting.
As in past years, two representatives of Australian NGOs and one expert joined the department-led Australian Government delegation to the UNHCR Executive Committee at the invitation of the minister.
The department also participated in the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement in June 2007.