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Australian Multiculturalism for a New Century: Towards Inclusiveness

Appendix H - cost of immigration, settlement and multicultural programs

Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

The total allocation for the Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Portfolio in 1998-99 is some $546 million.

Of this, $295 million is allocated to activities such as the movement of people, including tourists, business people and students, into and out of Australia. Refugee and humanitarian programs are also funded from this allocation.

It should be noted that the migration program sets its fees and charges to achieve full cost recovery. Corporate management overheads account for a further $92 million.

The remaining $159 million is allocated for settlement, Citizenship and multicultural programs, some of which are discussed below.

Settlement programs

The Settlement and Language Services Sub-Program in the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has responsibility for arranging settlement programs for recently-arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants which complement the services governments direct to all Australian residents. This includes:

  • the Adult Migrant English Program that ensures that migrants have access to English language tuition soon after their arrival in Australia. Expenditure in 1997-98 was $115.6 million, offset by revenue of $10.4 million.
  • the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) that provides an around-the-clock telephone interpreting service for the price of a local call and face-to-face on-site interpreting and document translation services during business hours. TIS has evolved beyond being a wholly settlement service to being a service of great value to the wider community. Expenditure in 1997-98 was $18.5 million, offset by revenue of $6.5 million.
  • the Community Settlement Services Scheme that provides grants to community organisations to assist with settlement priorities identified within the National Integrated Settlement Strategy framework. Expenditure in 1997-98 was around $23 million.
  • further, under the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy, individuals and small groups of refugee and humanitarian entrants are assisted to access general services. Expenditure in 1997-98 was around $11 million.

Multicultural programs

The Multicultural Affairs Sub-Program in the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has responsibility for core multicultural programs including productive diversity, access and equity, and the Living in Harmony initiative.

Outcome-based core funding for the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia ($350,000) and the costs of the National Multicultural Advisory Council also come from this Program. Expenditure in 1997-98 for these core elements was $4.1 million.

Some $10 million has been allocated for 1998-99, including most of the $5 million for the Living in Harmony initiative that was carried over from 1997-98.

Other portfolios

Predominantly settlement programs

  • The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition carries out a number of functions to foster recognition in Australia of qualifications acquired overseas and to strengthen international arrangements for the recognition of qualifications. These include the provision of assessment for individuals and policy advice to government and to employer, professional and community organisations. Expenditure in 1997-98 was around $3 million.

Predominantly multicultural programs

  • The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is a multicultural and multilingual broadcaster whose television and radio services are broadcast to millions of Australians. Its Charter requires the SBS to provide programming which is culturally and linguistically diverse and reflects multicultural Australia. Expenditure in 1997-98 was $83 million.

Various organisations, including the Australia Council and the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, have established multicultural advisory committees.

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