Fact Sheet 1 - Immigration: the Background Part two
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2009–10 Humanitarian Program
As a member of the international community, Australia is committed to sharing the responsibility for protecting refugees worldwide and resolving refugee situations through the system of international protection. A key element of this commitment is Australia's Humanitarian Program, which provides resettlement to people overseas in humanitarian need and protection to people who arrive in Australia and are found to be refugees.
See: Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program
In 2009–10 the Humanitarian Program has increased to 13 750 places, which comprises two main categories:
- A total of 6000 places have been allocated to the Refugee category, which is for people who are subject to persecution in their home country and who are in need of resettlement.
- A total of 7750 places have been allocated to the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category, for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country. This allocation also includes Onshore Protection needs. Onshore Protection visas are granted to people who apply from within Australia and are found to be refugees.
For 2009–10, the government will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in focusing on people from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and South West Asia. The target for Woman at Risk visa grants will also increase to 12 per cent of the Refugee category allocation.
In 2008–09, a total of 13 507 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Program. 6499 visas were granted to people in the Refugee category , including 788 Woman at Risk visas. In addition, 4511 SHP visas were granted to people offshore. A total of 2497 visas were granted to people onshore, including 2378 initial Protection visa grants.
Migration statistics
Each year, the government sets the planning levels for the various components of the Migration and Humanitarian Programs. The planning levels determine the expected number of visas to be granted in the new program year, which equates to Australia's financial year, 1 July to 30 June.
Planning levels
Planning levels for the two programs are decided in May each year, usually just before the start of the program year. They indicate the number of visas the Australian Government has agreed may be granted in each migration category and in the components of the Humanitarian Program in the approaching program year.
See:
Fact Sheet 20 – Migration Program Planning Levels
Fact Sheet 21 – Managing the Migration Program
Program outcomes
The Migration Program outcome is the total number of visas granted overseas to applicants, plus the number of residence approvals granted to people who are already in Australia for a temporary stay and have successfully applied to remain permanently.
Settler arrivals
The number of settler arrivals is the total number of migrants who actually arrive to settle in Australia. This figure will differ from the program outcome figure because (among other reasons):
- New Zealanders are not included in program figures, but are included in settler arrival figures (under the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement, Australian and New Zealand citizens may enter each other's country to visit, live and work)
- while a visa may be granted in one program year, the migrant may not use the visa to move to Australia until the following year
- some potential migrants do not use the migrant visas they have been granted.
On average, migrants do not arrive in Australia until two or three months after obtaining a visa, although this period can vary from a few days to up to 12 months.
Net overseas migration
Net overseas migration is a measure of the number of people added to Australia's resident population each year as a result of the movement of people into and out of Australia. It comprises the difference in numbers between permanent and long-term arrivals and permanent and long-term departures.
Long-term arrivals comprise overseas travellers who indicate an intention to stay in Australia for 12 months or more (in effect, temporary residents who will eventually leave Australia) and Australian residents returning after an absence of 12 months or more overseas.
Migrant statistics
Australia has received over 1.1 million migrants since the year 2000 compared with:
- 900 000 in the 1990s
- 1.1 million in the 1980s
- 960 000 in the 1970s
- 1.3 million in the 1960s
- 1.6 million between October 1945 and 30 June 1960.
The number of people who have migrated to Australia since the post–war migration program began (October 1945) is over 6.9 million. Since July 1959, when data became available, over 1.6 million people left Australia permanently.
The highest number of settlers to arrive in any one year since World War II was in 1969-70 when 185 099 people arrived.
The lowest number to arrive in any one year since 1948 was 52 752 in 1975-76. In 2008-09 some 158 000 new settlers arrived in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 2 – Key Facts in Immigration
Migrant statistics
1997-98 to 2007-08
| Planning levels (a) | Program Outcomes (a) | Settler Arrivals | Net Permanent Gain | Net Overseas Migration (b) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 - 98 | 80 000 | 79 100 | 77 300 | 45 300 | 79 200 |
| 1998 - 99 | 80 000 | 79 200 | 84 100 | 49 000 | 96 500 |
| 1999 - 00 | 82 000 | 86 000 | 92 300 | 51 200 | 107 300 |
| 2000 - 01 | 88 000 | 94 300 | 107 400 | 61 000 | 135 700 |
| 2001 - 02 | 105 000 (c) | 105 400 | 88 900 | 40 600 | 110 500 |
| 2002 - 03 | 123 220 | 120 600 | 94 000 | 43 500 | 116 500 |
| 2003 - 04 | 128 500 | 128 200 | 111 600 | 52 500 | 100 000 |
| 2004 - 05 | 133 000 | 133 200 | 123 400 | 60 800 | 123 800 |
| 2005 - 06 | 153 000 | 157 100 | 131 600 | 63 700 | 146 800 |
| 2006 - 07 | 134 000 – 144 000 |
161 200 | 140 100 | 68 000 | 232 800 |
| 2007 - 08 | 171 800 | 171 600 | 149 400 | 72 400 | 213 700 (d) |
| 2008 - 09 | 171 800 | 171 318 | 158 000 | 77 000 | N/A |
(a) Combination of Migration and Humanitarian programs
(b) See Australian Bureau of Statistics publication Migration (cat 3412.0), table 3.2
(c) Includes skill stream contingency reserve.
(d) Preliminary figure.
Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au
The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.
Fact Sheet 1. Produced by the National Communications Branch of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Last reviewed 23 September 2009.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.