Fact Sheet 1 - Immigration: The Background Part Two
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2010–11 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 refugee protection. A key element of this commitment is Australia's Humanitarian program, which has two components. The component outside Australia provides resettlement to people overseas in humanitarian need and the component in Australia provides protection to people who arrive in Australia and are found to be refugees.
Since the end of World War II, Australia has resettled more than 750 000 refugees and people in humanitarian need.
In 2010–11, the government will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees along with other resettlement countries, in focusing on people from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and South West Asia.
See: Fact Sheet 60 – Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian Program
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.
The Humanitarian Program outcome is the total number of visas granted overseas to refugee and humanitarian applicants, plus the number of program-countable visas granted to people who apply for protection in Australia.
Settler arrivals
The number of settler arrivals is the total number of migrants who actually arrive to settle in Australia. The information is compiled from Passenger Cards. This data needs to be treated with some caution as it involves individuals self-reporting on their settlement intentions. This figure will differ from the migration program outcome figure because (among other reasons):
- New Zealand citizens are not included in migration 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
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 (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia.
Overseas travelers are included in the population if they are in Australia for a total of 12 months or more over a 16 month period. Conversely, overseas travellers are subtracted from the population if they are away for a total of 12 months or more over a 16 month period. The level of NOM is the balance of these NOM arrivals less NOM departures.
This method is known as the '12/16 month rule'. It takes account of those persons who may have left Australia briefly and returned, while still being resident for 12 months out of 16.
Importantly, there is no fixed relationship in any one year between the size of the Permanent Migration and Humanitarian Programs and the level of NOM, due to large fluctuations in the arrival and departure of temporary residents.
Migrant statistics
Australia has received over 1.2 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.
More than 7.1 million people have migrated to Australia since the post-war migration program began (October 1945). Since July 1959, when data became available, more than 1.7 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 2009–10, some 140 600 new settlers arrived in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 2 – Key Facts in Immigration
Migrant statistics
From 1999–2000 to 2009–10
| Program statistics (a) | Movement statistics (b) | Demographic statistics (c) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning levels (d) | Program outcomes (d) | Settler arrivals | Net permanent gain | Net long-term gain | Net overseas migration (e) | |
| 1999 - 00 | 82 000 | 86 000 | 92 300 | 51 200 | 56 100 | 107 300 |
| 2000 - 01 | 88 000 | 94 300 | 107 400 | 61 000 | 74 800 | 135 700 |
| 2001 - 02 | 105 000 (c) | 105 400 | 88 900 | 40 600 | 93 000 | 110 500 |
| 2002 - 03 | 123 220 | 120 600 | 94 000 | 43 500 | 110 800 | 116 500 |
| 2003 - 04 | 128 500 | 128 200 | 111 600 | 52 500 | 112 100 | 100 000 |
| 2004 - 05 | 133 000 | 133 200 | 123 400 | 60 800 | 117 200 | 123 800 |
| 2005 - 06 | 153 000 | 157 100 | 131 600 | 63 700 | 135 500 | 146 800 |
| 2006 - 07 | 134 000 – 144 000 |
161 200 | 140 100 | 68 000 | 170 200 | 232 800 |
| 2007 - 08 | 171 800 | 171 600 | 149 400 | 72 400 | 206 600 | 277 300 |
| 2008 - 09 | 185 300 | 184 800 | 158 000 | 77 000 | 259 100 | 313 400 (g) |
| 2009 - 10 | 182 450 | 182 400 | 140 600 | 54 300 | 188 800 | N/A |
(a) Program statistics reflect the number of legal permissions to enter Australia and do not include Australian or New Zealand citizens—they are not counts of actual persons.
(b) Movement statistics are counts of overseas arrivals and departures by categories of traveller, which include those indicating permanent stay (settler arrivals), a continuous temporary stay of 12 months or more (long term movement), or a stay of less than 12 months (short term movement—they include Australian and New Zealand citizens, but are not counts of actual persons.
(c) Demographic statistics are counts of actual persons. Net overseas migration (NOM) measures the difference between arrivals and departures on a permanent and temporary long-term basis. Persons are counted into (or out of) NOM if their total period of stay in Australia (or departure from Australia) covers 12 months out of a 16 month period.
(d) Combination of Migration and Humanitarian programs.
(e) See Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication Migration (cat 3412.0), table 3.2.
(f) Includes skill stream contingency reserve.
(g) Preliminary estimate from ABS.
Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au
The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (recorded information is available outside these hours).
Fact Sheet 1. Produced by the National Communications Branch of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Last reviewed March 2011.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2011.