Australian Government, 2007–08 Budget

Immigration and Citizenship

457 visas — ongoing management of caseload

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 22.8 15.0 12.4 12.2
Office of Workplace Services 4.0 3.4 1.8 1.8
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8
Australian Taxation Office 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7
Department of Education, Science and Training 0.8 0.4 - -
Total 29.5 20.6 15.8 15.6
Related capital ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 3.3 0.5 - -
Office of Workplace Services 0.2 - - -
Total 3.4 0.5 - -
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.7 2.1 2.0 2.1

The Government will provide $85.3 million over four years to identify and implement measures to improve the effectiveness, fairness and integrity of the temporary skilled migration visa category (457 visas).

The funding will enable improvements to the visa processing arrangements, including the fast tracking of certain visa applications, a strengthened focus on skill requirements and increased protections for overseas workers. It will also enable strengthening of the penalty regime and enhanced investigative capacity, with increased powers of search and entry.

The costs over four years are estimated at $66.1 million for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, $11.1 million for the Office of Workplace Services, $3.6 million for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, $1.2 million for the Department of Education, Science and Training, and $3.3 million for the Australian Taxation Office.

The measure includes $3.7 million over two years in capital funding for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and $0.2 million in capital funding in 2007-08 for the Office of Workplace Services for IT system upgrades.

The cost of this measure will be partially offset by an increase in revenue of $7.9 million over four years from the inclusion of fines in the strengthened penalty regime.

Implementation of this measure will continue to be discussed with key stakeholders.

Case management and community care pilot — continuation and extension

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 5.6 - - -

The Government will provide $5.6 million in 2007-08 to continue the case management and community care pilot in Sydney and Melbourne until 30 June 2008, and extend it to clients in Queensland with exceptional circumstances. This will enable a full evaluation of the programme to assess whether supporting the health and welfare needs of vulnerable clients will assist in achieving more timely, fair and reasonable immigration outcomes.

This measure expands on the case management and community care component of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2005-06 measure Palmer and Comrie Reports — implementation plan.

Citizenship Test

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 38.8 23.9 20.0 20.2
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 5.5 9.4 9.7 10.0
Related capital ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.9 0.1 - -

The Government will provide $123.6 million over five years (including $18.6 million in 2006-07) to develop a formal Citizenship Test for prospective Australian citizens and initiatives to enhance the integration of permanent residents and long-term temporary residents. The test aims to inform migrants about Australian values and promote social cohesion. The intended initiatives include an information booklet on the Australian way of life, culture and social structures, and a requirement that applicants for permanent and selected temporary visas provide a statement that they will abide by Australian laws and respect the Australian way of life.

This measure includes $6.0 million in capital funding (including $4.0 million in 2006-07) for IT equipment and software.

The cost of this measure will be partially offset by revenue of $34.4 million over four years from an increase in citizenship application fees. The general eligibility citizenship application fee will rise from $120 to $240 for applicants required to sit the Citizenship Test. Additional revenue of $1.2 million in 2006-07 is also expected from an increase in citizenship applications following the announcement of the Citizenship Test.

Further information can be found in the press release of 11 December 2006 issued by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

Detention health review — increasing health care for people in detention

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 4.4 3.7 3.7 3.8

The Government will provide $15.5 million over four years to meet the costs of increased acute psychiatric care for people in immigration detention and to establish a contract management unit in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to manage the financial, delivery and evaluation components of the health services contract.

The funding will also support the continuation of the Detention Health Advisory Group, which comprises representatives from key Australian health bodies. The Group provides independent policy advice, consistent with accepted Australian practice, to the department to ensure the delivery of quality health care to people in immigration detention.

Humanitarian settlement initiatives — changes to the Special Humanitarian Programme Proposer System

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 4.5 4.0 4.0 4.1

The Government will provide $16.6 million over four years to strengthen the Special Humanitarian Programme Proposer System. This will involve introducing minimum requirements for Special Humanitarian Programme proposers, including at least two years residence in Australia, one year in employment and, where assessed as necessary, a requirement to undertake financial literacy training. The funding will also provide support coordinators who will coordinate volunteer groups to help proposers in developing their capacity to assist in the initial settlement of Special Humanitarian Programme entrants.

See also the related expense measures titled Humanitarian settlement initiatives in the Immigration and Citizenship; Education, Science and Training; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing portfolios.

Humanitarian settlement initiatives — complex case support services

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2.0 10.9 11.1 11.2

The Government will provide $35.2 million over four years for specialised case management to help humanitarian entrants with intensive needs reach minimum standards of self-sufficiency and integration. The funding will provide for a tiered case management approach based on the level of need to ensure entrants that require long‑term intensive case management receive appropriate assistance.

See also the related expense measures titled Humanitarian settlement initiatives in the Immigration and Citizenship; Education, Science and Training; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing portfolios.

Humanitarian settlement initiatives — connecting to Australia

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

The Government will provide $0.9 million over four years to improve the awareness of humanitarian entrants of Australian law and to build positive relationships between humanitarian entrant communities and the police. The funding will also seek to bridge gaps in accredited interpreting services available to humanitarian entrants.

See also the related expense measures titled Humanitarian settlement initiatives in the Immigration and Citizenship; Education, Science and Training; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing portfolios.

Humanitarian settlement initiatives — increased in-kind support

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1

The Government will provide $8.5 million over four years to further assist humanitarian entrants in the first month of arrival to establish a new home and life in Australia. The funding will provide increased assistance for short‑term rental and utilities costs and assistance with public transport fares for the first month after arrival.

See also the related expense measures titled Humanitarian settlement initiatives in the Immigration and Citizenship; Education, Science and Training; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing portfolios.

Humanitarian settlement initiatives — sustainable regional settlement

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3

The Government will provide $1.5 million over four years to enhance the long-term sustainable settlement of humanitarian entrants in regional areas. The funding will help match humanitarian entrants with regional locations that have employment opportunities, and provide discretionary funds to train service providers and build community support for regional settlement. It will also enable the evaluation of regional settlement locations, with a view to enhancing arrangements in existing locations and informing future settlement decisions.

See also the related expense measures titled Humanitarian settlement initiatives in the Immigration and Citizenship; Education, Science and Training; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing portfolios.

Migration Programme — 4,000 additional family stream places for 2006-07

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 4.1 4.8 4.9 5.0
Department of Health and Ageing 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.8
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2.9 1.4 - -
Department of Education, Science and Training 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.4
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 0.1 .. 13.2 11.5
Medicare Australia 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Total 13.0 13.3 25.3 23.9
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship - - - -

The Government will increase the number of family stream places by 4,000 in the 2006-07 Migration Programme, to accommodate demand for partner visas, at an estimated cost of $82.1 million over five years (including $6.6 million in 2006-07).

This increase in the Migration Programme will require the provision of health, education, employment and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants. The costs of these services over five years for this one-off increase in the Migration Programme are outlined in the table above, and will be partially offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million in 2006-07 arising from visa application charges for partner visa applications.

Migration Programme — 8,800 place increase for 2007-08

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Health and Ageing 6.8 15.2 23.9 33.2
Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 5.7 16.9 28.9 41.4
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 4.5 8.9 11.0 11.2
Department of Education, Science and Training 4.3 10.0 16.5 21.6
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 0.2 0.3 12.8 35.8
Medicare Australia 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.5
Total 21.5 51.5 93.5 143.8
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3

The Government will increase the 2007-08 Migration (non-humanitarian) Programme by 8,800 places, comprising an additional 5,000 places in the skill stream and 4,000 places in the family stream, with a reduction of 200 places in the special eligibility stream, at a cost of $310.3 million over four years. The 2007-08 programme planning level will therefore be set in the range of 142,800 to 152,800 places.

This increase in the Migration Programme will require the provision of health, education, employment, and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants. The costs of these services over four years are outlined in the table above, and will be partially offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million over four years arising from additional visa application charges.

Migration Programme — enhanced integrity of partner visa processing

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.2

The Government will provide $4.8 million over four years to enhance the integrity of partner visa processing through more rigorous and effective scrutiny of partner visa applications. Partner visa processing arrangements will be strengthened through better collection and use of intelligence aimed at discouraging non-genuine partners from abusing the partner visa provisions. This more strategic approach will increase community confidence in the Migration Programme.

Parliament of the World’s Religions 2009 — contribution

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship - - - -

The Government will provide $2.0 million in 2007-08 to assist the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau in hosting the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 2009. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s largest interfaith gathering and acknowledges the important role of multifaith dialogue in developing social cohesion.

Prospective illegal immigrants — improved arrangements in transit countries

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

The Government will provide $4.9 million over four years to increase the capacity of authorities and international organisations in transit countries to provide humanitarian support to people who might otherwise seek to travel to Australia illegally.

This funding expands on the 2006-07 Budget measure Prospective illegal immigrants — arrangements in transit countries.

Review of student visa two-stage permission to work — implementation

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 0.4 -0.9 -0.9 -1.0
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 1.1 -0.9 -0.9 -1.0

The Government will remove the separate requirement of student visa holders to apply for work rights, by allowing foreign students to have work rights on the basis of their primary student visa, resulting in savings of $2.4 million over four years. This change will simplify the work rights arrangements for student visa holders and remove an inefficient administrative process.

The saving is net of funding of $0.4 million that will be provided in 2007-08 to enable the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to adjust its existing systems to accommodate the new visa class.

The saving will be partially offset by a reduction in revenue from visa charges of $1.8 million over four years.

Strategy to prevent people smuggling — additional airline liaison officers

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1

The Government will provide $12.1 million over four years to engage additional airline liaison officers, allowing more flexible and responsive deployment to intercept and deter unauthorised passengers prior to their departure for Australia. The funding will also provide for a rapid response team to address emerging developments in the region as travel seasons and patterns change.

See also the related expense measures titled Strategy to prevent people smuggling in the Immigration and Citizenship, Attorney-General’s, and Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolios.

Strategy to prevent people smuggling — assistance for management and care of irregular immigrants in Indonesia

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 7.7 - - -

The Government will provide $7.7 million in 2007-08 to the International Organization for Migration to improve Indonesia’s management and care of irregular immigrants. The funding will be used to improve and expand existing facilities, develop guidelines for the management and care of irregular immigrants in accordance with human rights standards and relevant international obligations, and provide training and resourcing for a dedicated unit to facilitate the voluntary return of persons not in need of protection.

See also the related expense measures titled Strategy to prevent people smuggling in the Immigration and Citizenship, Attorney-General’s, and Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolios.

Strategy to prevent people smuggling — stabilising displaced populations

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2.0 - - -

The Government will provide $2.0 million in 2007-08 to improve the provision of effective protection to, and the stabilisation of, refugees and populations displaced by conflict in people smuggling source and transit countries.

This measure expands on the 2004-05 Budget measure Humanitarian migration — continuation of displaced refugee initiatives.

See also the related expense measures titled Strategy to prevent people smuggling in the Immigration and Citizenship, Attorney-General’s, and Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolios.

Unauthorised boat arrivals — continuation of Nauru Offshore Processing Centre

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship - - - -

The Government will provide $10.0 million in 2007-08 to continue the operations of the Nauru Offshore Processing Centre.

The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

World Youth Day 2008 — support

Expense ($m)
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2.6 0.5 - -
Related revenue ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship -3.2 - - -

The Government will provide $3.0 million over two years to manage the orderly entry and stay of the 135,000 international pilgrims expected to visit Australia for World Youth Day 2008.

The Government will also waive the visa application charge for pilgrims coming to Australia to attend World Youth Day, resulting in revenue forgone of $3.2 million in 2007-08.