Refugee, humanitarian and assisted movements—passage and associated costs
Objective
Assist the movement of applicants approved for entry to Australia under the refugee component of the offshore Humanitarian Program.
Description
In November 2007, the department entered into a three-year Deed of Reimbursement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the assisted passage of people approved for entry to Australia under the refugee component of the Offshore Humanitarian Program. The assistance provided under this contract covers the full cost of medical examinations and airfares for eligible entrants.
Performance
In 2008–09, $13.55 million was allocated under this program. This amount included an additional $900 000 to cover the travel and medical costs associated with the resettlement of locally engaged staff of the Australian Defence Force in Iraq. There were 7117 refugee and humanitarian entrants assisted with travel and the overall expenditure on travel and associated services was $15.59 million1. A total of 12 035 applicants were medically screened and about 9750 pre-departure medical checks performed in 2008–09 for a total cost of $5.81 million.
Table 57: Refugee, humanitarian and assisted movements—passage and associated costs—performance information| Key performance indicators | 2008–09 |
|---|---|
| Quantity: Number of refugees moved to Australia | |
| Planned | 6 500 |
| Result | 7 117 |
| Quantity: Number of refugee applicants medically screened for entry into Australia | |
| Planned | 12 000 |
| Result | 12 035 |
- Adverse currency movements contributed to higher than expected costs over 2008–2009.
