Trial to Improve Processing under Australia's Humanitarian Program
Media Release - DPS 37/2003
New arrangements will be trialed by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) aimed at improving processing under Australia's humanitarian program.
'The trial, starting 1 July 2003, will involve the Sydney office of DIMIA partly processing Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) applications lodged in Nairobi between 1 April and 31 July 2003', a departmental spokesperson said.
'We expect the trial to be a success. This should result in the arrangement continuing on a permanent basis and it may eventually be extended to include applications lodged in other countries.'
'The Sydney Office will mirror the processes and standards of the Australian High Commission in Nairobi. This will ensure an applicant will receive the same outcome, irrespective of where their application is processed.'
'At each stage of processing both applicants and their Australian proposers will be informed of the location of their case and where to direct queries'.
All applications must continue to be lodged at Nairobi and cannot be lodged in NSW.
Special Humanitarian Program applications lodged in Nairobi are made mostly by people from Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ethiopia.
For further details of the processing arrangements under the trial,
please refer to the information sheet at www.immi.gov.au/migration/humanitarian/nairobi.htm
or contact 131 881 for your closest DIMIA office.
2 June 2003
Media inquiries:
Public Affairs: (02) 6264 2244 (bh) or 0419 442 000 (ah)