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Migration and humanitarian programs
Harriet Spinks
The Government has once again announced the migration
program planning figures in the context of the Budget, continuing a trend begun
in the Rudd Government’s 2008–09 Budget. Prior to this, migration program
figures were announced outside of the Budget context. The 2009–10 migration
program will total 168 700 places, broken down into 108 100 skilled places, 60
300 family places and 300 places for special eligibility.[1] This represents a decrease from 2008–09 migration program planning levels,
which were set at 171 800 places.[2]
As had been widely expected, the skilled migration program
has been reduced for 2009–10, to 108 100 places. This follows cuts to the
2008–09 skilled migration program, from 133 500 to 115 000 places, announced in
March 2009,[3] and brings the skilled migration program roughly back to 2007–08 levels, when
108 540 permanent skilled migration visas were granted. The cuts to the skilled
migration program are a response to the current economic downturn and an
expected increase in unemployment as the Australian economy slows.[4] However, the reduction in places for skilled migrants has been criticised by
some business groups, who claim that it will slow Australia’s recovery from
recession, and deprive the economy of much needed skills, labour and ultimately
revenue.[5]
The reductions will target the general skilled migration
category, rather than the employer-sponsored component of the skilled migration
program. The Government’s intention is to shift the balance of the skilled
migration program away from independent skilled migrants, who do not have a job
lined up in Australia prior to migrating here, towards sponsored skilled
migrants, who have already arranged employment prior to their arrival in
Australia.[6] This helps to ensure that skilled migrants coming to Australia are being
employed in industries that have the highest need, and are filling gaps that
employers are struggling to fill locally. It also reduces the competition for
jobs between Australian workers and independent skilled migrants who arrive in
Australia without having employment already lined up.
In January 2009 the Government introduced changes to the
skilled migration program for the second half of 2008–09 which meant that
skilled migrants who were sponsored by an employer would be given higher
processing priority than independent migrants. Priority processing was also
introduced for people with skills considered to be in critical shortage in Australia,
such as medical and some IT professionals, engineers and construction trade
workers.[7] These arrangements will continue during 2009–10, in a further attempt to ensure
that the skilled migration program is meeting the areas of most critical need
in the Australian labour market.
Further changes to the skilled migration program to be
phased in from 1 January 2009 affect those with trade level occupations
applying under the independent (non-sponsored) skilled stream. The English
language requirement these applicants must meet will increase from
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level five to IELTS level
six (IELTS scores range from one being the lowest to nine being the highest).
Additionally, from 1 January 2010 onshore applicants in this category will
be required to undertake a job readiness test, in line with testing for
offshore applicants. These measures are intended to ensure that independent
skilled migrants have the skills required to compete in the Australian labour
market.
The family stream of the migration program will be increased
in 2009–10 by 3800 places, resulting in a total of 60 300 places being
available for family migration. The increase is comprised of an additional 2500
places for partners, 1000 places for contributory parents, and 200 places for
child visas. This relatively small increase is unlikely to result in any
significant reduction in the long waiting periods experienced by many
applicants for family migration, particularly as many of the family visa categories
with the longest wait have not been allocated additional places. For example,
the current waiting period for an applicant for a contributory parent visa is
approximately 18 months to two years.[8] The additional 100 places allocated for this category will assist in reducing
this waiting time. However, the current wait for a non-contributory parent visa
is approximately 10 years, and no additional places have been allocated to help
ease the pressure. [9] The increase in places for contributory parent visas is most likely intended to
encourage more people to apply in this category, rather than the standard
parent visa category. The difference between the two categories is
cost—contributory parent visa applicants pay approximately $30 000 more than
applicants for a regular parent visa.[10]
The humanitarian program for 2009–10 will be set at 13 750
places, with 7750 of these going to the special humanitarian program, and 6000
to the refugee component.[11] This represents an increase of only 250 places from 2008–09 planning levels,
far fewer than refugee advocates had been hoping for. The number of refugees
worldwide is increasing, a fact which has been acknowledged by the Government
in its attempts to explain the recent increase in the number of asylum seekers
arriving in Australia by boat.[12] In this context, refugee advocates had hoped that the Government would
significantly increase the number of resettlement places available to
humanitarian entrants.[13]
The Government has also announced that it will introduce a
formal system of complementary protection, for people who do not meet the
definition of a refugee set out in the 1951 refugee Convention, but who are
nonetheless at risk of significant human rights abuses should they be returned
home.[14] No detail regarding the form the new complementary system will take, or when it
will be introduced, has been given.
[1]. C Evans (Minister for
Immigration and Citizenship), Migration program: the size of the skilled and
family programs, media release, Canberra, 12 May 2009, viewed 14 May 2009, http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce02-budget-09.htm
[2]. The actual number of people
who came to Australia under the 2008–09 migration program will not be known
until the end of the program year.
[3]. C Evans (Minister for Immigration and
Citizenship), Government cuts migration program, media release,
Canberra, 16 March 2009, viewed 14 May 2009, http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce09030.htm
[4]. C Evans, Migration program:
the size of the skilled and family programs.
[5]. P Maley, ‘Cuts could hold
back recovery’, The Australian, 14 May 2009, viewed 18 May 2009, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressclp/RXJT6/
upload_binary/rxjt60.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22budget%20migration%22
[6]. Department of Immigration and
Citizenship (DIAC), The 2009–10 skilled migration program, fact sheet,
Canberra, May 2009, viewed 18 May 2009, http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/2009-10-skilled-migration-program-factsheet.pdf
[7]. C Evans (Minister for Immigration and
Citizenship), Migration program gives priority to those with skills most
needed, media release, Canberra, 17 December 2008, viewed 14 May 2009, http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2008/ce08123.htm
[8]. DIAC, ‘Parent visa
processing priorities’, viewed 15 May 2009, http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/parent-visa-processing-priorities.htm
[9]. DIAC, ‘Parent visa
processing priorities’.
[10]. DIAC, ‘Parent
Visa Charges’,
viewed 15 May 2009, http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/parent.htm
[11]. C Evans (Minister for Immigration and
Citizenship), Humanitarian program, media release, Canberra, 12 May
2009, viewed 14 May 2009, http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce03-budget-09.htm
[12]. For example, see A Symonds,
‘Rudd defends his asylum policy’, Australian financial review, 25 April
2009, viewed 15 May 2009, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressclp/VBDT6/
upload_binary/vbdt60.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22refugees%20worldwide%22
[13]. T Arup, ‘Boat puts pressure on
visas’ The age, 12 May 2009, viewed 15 May 2009, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressclp/KMIT6
/upload_binary/kmit60.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22humanitarian%22
[14]. C Evans, Humanitarian program.
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