Fact Sheet 1 - Immigration: the Background Part two
On this page
2006-07 Humanitarian Program
Australia is a committed participant in the system of international protection in which countries choose to share responsibility to protect and find an orderly resolution for the plight of refugees. A key element of this commitment is Australia's Humanitarian Program, which provides resettlement to people overseas who are in the greatest need, and protection to people who arrive in Australia who are determined to be in need of protection.
See: Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program
A total of 13 000 places have been maintained for the 2006-07 Humanitarian Program, which is comprised of two main components:
- 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.
- 7000 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; and to meet Onshore Protection needs. Onshore Protection visas are granted to those assessed as refugees within Australia.
The program will continue to be flexible, ensuring Australia's contribution to humanitarian resettlement is maximised. This means places can be moved between the onshore and offshore components as the need arises, and unused places may be carried over into the next program year or places may be brought forward from the following program year for use in addition to the annual allocation.
The focus of offshore resettlement in 2006-07 will continue to be people from African, Middle East, and south-west Asian countries. This is in line with UNHCR regional priorities.
In 2006-07, a total of 13 017 visas were granted under the Humanitarian Program, including 6003 visas granted to people in the refugee category and 5183 SHP visas granted to people offshore. A total of 1731 visas were granted to people onshore, including 995 permanent 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 received 900 000 migrants during the 1990s compared with:
- 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 more than six million. During the same period, about one 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 2005-06 some 131 600 new settlers arrived in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 2 Key Facts in Immigration
Migrant statistics
1996-97 to 2006-07
| Planning levels (a) | Program Outcomes (a) | Settler Arrivals | Net Permanent Gain | Net Overseas Migration (b) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 - 97 | 86 000 | 85 800 | 85 800 | 55 900 | 87 100 |
| 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 | 142 900 | 131 600 | 63 700 | 134 600 |
| 2006 - 07 | 134 000 – 144 000 |
148 200 | 140 148 | 68 045 | 177 600 |
(a) Combination of Migration and Humanitarian Programs
(b) Includes the difference between long-term arrivals and long-term departures
(c) Includes skill stream contingency reserve.
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 9am to 4pm (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.
Revised 17 November 2008.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2008.