Asylum seekers: Where Australia stands

16 Feb 2011, 12:00 am   -   Source: Chiara Pazzano, SBS
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Asylum seekers who arrive by boat are more likely to be accepted as genuine refugees than those who arrive by plane, a Parliament document says. (AAP)

Asylum seekers who arrive by boat are more likely to be accepted as genuine refugees than those who arrive by plane, a Parliament document says. (AAP)

The public debate on asylum seekers has focused on boat arrivals, but government figures show that the large majority of asylum applicants arrive by plane.

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The public debate on asylum seekers has been focusing on boat arrivals, but government figures show that the large majority of asylum applicants arrive by plane.

The information is contained in a Federal Parliament background note on boat arrivals.

"The majority of onshore asylum seekers actually arrive in Australia by air with a valid visa and then apply for onshore protection through Australia’s humanitarian program at some stage after their arrival," the note, authored by Jane Phillips said -- referring to figures issued by the Department of Immigration. 

RELATED: Dept. Immigration - Monthly Detention Snapshot, May 2009

Most of these applicants receive a bridging visa upon lodging a protection visa application.

In most cases, the bridging visa allows the applicant to remain lawfully in the community until the protection visa application is finalised.

Boat people 'usually genuine refugees'

Ms Phillips says those who arrive by boat, in any country, are more likely to be accepted as genuine refugees than those who fly.

Of the boat arrivals, past figures showed between 70 and 97 per cent were later found to be genuine refugees.

The majority arriving by plane were not found to be refugees, the report said.

Most people in detention visa over-stayers

Detention is mandated for all unlawful non-citizens in Australia.

Over much of the past two decades people in immigration detention have predominantly been visa over-stayers, unauthorised air arrivals, and those whose visa has been cancelled, rather than those who have arrived unauthorised by boat, the paper said.

Australia's refugee resettlement program

The UNHCR's '2009 Global Trends' report published in September 2010 says Australia is performing creditably in refugee resettlement, with 11,080 refugees resettled from other nations in 2008-2009, making up 9.9 per cent of the global total of 112,442.

The United States alone received 71 per cent of all refugees resettled in 2009 (79,937).

But only 0.5 per cent of the 1.18 million new global asylum applications were lodged in Australia in 2009, the UN report adds.

This means Australia is ranked 47th in the world as a refugee host country, granting visas to 22,548 refugees between 2005 and 2009 (0.2 per cent of the global total).

Australian asylum seekers system

So, how does Australia process its asylum seekers claims?  

Australia takes in refugees through its Refugee and Humanitarian Program.

The program consists of the Onshore Protection and Offshore Resettlement programs.

Onshore protection

The Onshore Protection program is for people who are already in Australia -- lawfully or unlawfully-- and who have made an application for refugee status.

If found to be owed protection, these applicants will be granted a permanent protection visa, provided they meet health and character requirements.

Where an application by a person in Australia is refused, that person can seek a merit review of that decision from an independent tribunal - either the Refugee Review Tribunal or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, depending on the basis for refusal.

Offshore resettlement

But the majority of refugees in Australia have been and are resettled from other countries through Australia's offshore humanitarian resettlement program.

The offshore resettlement program is divided in two categories.

Refugee: for people who are subject to persecution in their home country, who are typically outside their home country, and are in need of resettlement. These applicants are usually identified and referred by the UNHCR to Australia for resettlement.

Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) for people outside their home country who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country.

An Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, or an organisation that is based in Australia, must support applications for entry under the SHP.

Most visas granted under offshore program

In 2008–09 a total of 13,507 visas were granted, of which 11,010 visas were granted under the offshore component and 2497 visas were granted under the onshore component.

In May 2008 the Government announced an increase in the Humanitarian Program to 13,750 places for 2009–10.

The Refugee category for 2009-2010 was set at 6000 places and the remaining 7750 places were made available under the SHP category and for onshore protection needs.

In 2008-2009, most offshore visas were given to asylum seekers from Iraq (2874), Burma (2412), Afghanistan (847), Sudan (631), Bhutan (616), Ethiopia (478), Congo DRC (463), Somalia (456), Liberia (387), Sierra Leone (363). 

Detention Centres

There are different categories of detention centres in Australia.

Immigration Detention Centres (IDCs) mainly accommodate over-stayers, people in breach of their visa conditions, or people refused entry at Australia's international airports.

Offshore facilities cater for unauthorised boat arrivals. These are Villawood IDC, Maribyrnong IDC, Perth IDC and Christmas Island IDC.

Curtin is classified as an Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (IRPs) and is primarily used for unauthorised boat arrivals.

Curtin was re-opened in June by the Rudd Government, and is being used to house Afghan and Sri Lankan people who have had their refugee applications suspended.

Due to the increased number of asylum seekers arriving by boat in 2010, and to reduce the overcrowding at the Christmas Island IDC, last June the Rudd Government relocated around 90 asylum seekers to a disused mining camp in Leonora in Western Australia.

In October last year, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that changes would be made to Australia's mandatory detention policy, and that more children and families would be moved out of immigration detention centres into community-based accommodation, such as centres run by churches and charities.

In addition to these changes, the federal government announced that they would open two new detention centres – one in Northam, 80 kilometres north-east of Perth, and another at Inverbrackie, 37 kilometres north of Adelaide.

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to captain

san - from newyork, 6 days ago

To the people whom they call themselves as Austallians! have a heart as a human being. asylum seekers are refugees who lived under unlawful prosecutions and violation of human right at their home. most of the welfare for asylee comes from red cross or other international communities funds. look up international agreement from UN that every members have to follow. first of all, think about who originally owned your beautiful land and Aborigines people who were living in that land. What a shame!

Which side are you on?

Captain - from Lakemba,Sydney, 28 days ago

Who thinks we should let asylum seekers come into our beautiful Australia?

dr

wayne king - from rochedale, 2 months ago

imagine if you were them . end of discussion

Wow

Anonymous - from Victoria, 4 months ago

These people come here for our help. If you want to complain about "wasting tax payer's money" - think about the millions that are put into renovating sports stadiums, or the money that goes to convicted prisoners. In using prisoners as an example of how the government could better spend their money, I'm not saying that people don't deserve a second chance, but if money and second chances are going to be given - include asylum seekers; improve their living conditions and quality of life.

Asylum seekers are bludgers

Nick Folkes, APP Sydney Organiser - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Over 85% of asylum seekers are still on welfare after 5 years of resisence in Australia - what a waste of taxpayers money. Asylum seekers are given preferecne over Australians in areas of public housing, dental and medical. The APP believes Australia should withdraw from the UN Convention & Protocol on Refugees.

Gravey Train

Bin Fooled - from Lar Lar Land, 7 months ago

These people once they have reached Xmas Island jump for joy exactly what you would do if youve won lotto.Because really they have. No more work for them. They holiday first on Xmas island then get helped to find a location in Australia given a nice house to live in get put on a invalid pension plus hardship payments for the rest of their lives their children put through private schools free ect ect . i dont blame them for coming the red carpet is rolled out awaiting them.

here we are

anmol - from western melbourne, 7 months ago

refugees do deserve rights and if they want to be processed in australia then they deserve that right. They deserve freedom which they obviously never recieved in thier country of birth and while that isnt our fault i feel as human beings we should help each other in times of need and what better way than by helping those who have so little.

Asylum Seekers deserve to stay!!!

Mary - from Melbourne, 7 months ago

Johnny I agree with you. Most of the asylum seekers' cases have proved to be genuine and have been verified. I am sure Asylum Seekers would not pay a lifetime of savings to be sent to detention centres where the conditions are disgusting and atrocious. Some people DO have a heart and are actually willing to pay taxes to help these innocent people for being persecuted for standing up for basic rights that WE are taking advantage of. "We dont want tax" people, put yourself in thier shoes

Look after our own first

jazza - from qld, 7 months ago

All the do gooders out there if they want these people living in Australia, let them in and they can stay at these do-gooders homes with no government support. They can pay for it out there own pockets and I bet they change their minds real fast.. Australia should be looking after our own first, old age pensioners who have worked and payed taxes their whole lives, indigenous people, people with disabilities, our local schools and hospitals should be where our taxes are going.

Politicians don't have feelings

Rose - from Australia, 8 months ago

What disappoints me most is that Abbott and Gillard seem to be meeting in the middle. What politicians need to keep in mind is that these refugees and asylum seekers are just people. People wanting a home, wanting a life, these people are scarred from what they've been witness to. All they want is a haven, which they have found in Australia. Julia, Tony, and Chris Bowen have hearts made of stone if they realise this and still refuse to let them in. Disappointed in Australia...

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