Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Addressing Indigenous Needs
The 2005-06 Budget represents a new approach to addressing the needs of Indigenous people, following the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. At the national level, a National Indigenous Council has been appointed to advise the Government. At the community level, Shared Responsibility Agreements are being negotiated. These two initiatives allow Indigenous communities to provide advice on how government investment can meet their specific needs, and ensure effective service delivery based on partnerships between the Government and Indigenous Australians.
The transfer of Indigenous programmes to mainstream portfolios has facilitated greater prioritisation of Indigenous needs. A new Ministerial Taskforce on Indigenous Affairs has examined needs and spending across all areas of Government. This has resulted in the redirection of some resources towards Indigenous Programmes within mainstream departments as well as more effective targeting of Indigenous expenditure.
The Australian Government’s Indigenous Expenditure is expected to increase to $3.1 billion in 2005-06, up from $2.9 billion in 2004-05. Indigenous Budget Measures for 2005-06, including Election Commitments and decisions to extend lapsing programmes, account for $123 million of this total.
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | Total | |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | |
| EXPENSE MEASURES | |||||
| ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S | |||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | |||||
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Native Title System – extension of funding | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 5.1 |
| Northern Territory Indigenous Interpreter Service – extension of funding | 1.1 | - | - | - | 1.1 |
| Federal Court of Australia | |||||
| Native Title System – extension of funding | - | - | - | - | - |
| National Native Title Tribunal | |||||
| Native Title System – extension of funding | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.5 | -5.1 |
| Sub Total | 1.1 | - | - | - | 1.1 |
| COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS | |||||
| Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | |||||
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | - | - | - | - | - |
| EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TRAINING | |||||
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | |||||
| Cultural resource collection – digitisation | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | - | 8.9 |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | |||||
| Remote Indigenous Students – tutorial support for students leaving their communities | 1.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 8.7 |
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | 4.3 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 17.5 |
| EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS | |||||
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | |||||
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aboriginal Employment Strategy – continuation of funding | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 17.0 |
| Community Development Employment Projects – reform | - | - | - | - | - |
| Indigenous Economic Development Strategy | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 17.0 |
| FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES | |||||
| Department of Family and Community Services | |||||
| Healthy Indigenous Housing – continuation | 24.9 | 25.4 | 26.0 | 26.6 | 102.8 |
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | 24.9 | 25.4 | 26.0 | 26.6 | 102.8 |
| HEALTH AND AGEING | |||||
| Department of Health and Ageing | |||||
| Indigenous health – Healthy for Life | 11.2 | 21.3 | 30.4 | 39.4 | 102.4 |
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| National Illicit Drugs Strategy – capacity building in Indigenous communities | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 |
| Primary Health Care Access Programme — additional funding | 7.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 40.0 |
| Hearing Services Programme – extend eligibility | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 10.1 |
| Combating Petrol Sniffing | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 9.6 |
| Sub Total | 24.6 | 37.3 | 48.6 | 59.7 | 170.1 |
| IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS | |||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | |||||
| Native Title System – extension of funding | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shared Responsibility Agreements and community representation – Implementation Assistance | - | - | - | - | - |
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | |||||
| Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | - | - | - | - | - |
| INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND RESOURCES | |||||
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | |||||
| Indigenous Communities Mining Industry Working in Partnership programme – extension | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub Total | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Expense measures | 60.1 | 73.0 | 85.0 | 90.5 | 308.6 |
| CAPITAL MEASURES | |||||
| EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TRAINING | |||||
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | |||||
| Cultural resource collection – digitisation | 3.2 | - | - | - | 3.2 |
| Sub Total | 3.2 | - | - | - | 3.2 |
| Total Capital measures | 3.2 | - | - | - | 3.2 |
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Fringe Benefits Tax supplementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations — extension
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
| Torres Strait Regional Authority | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $59.7 million over four years to continue the supplementary funding provided to certain public benevolent and not for profit organisations providing services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to assist with the cost of the new fringe benefits tax arrangements implemented as part of The New Tax System.
The additional funding enables affected organisations to continue to offer remuneration at competitive market rates, in order to attract and retain professional and other staff.
This measure involves funding of $14.5 million in 2005-06, $14.7 million in 2006-07, $15.1 million in 2007-08 and $15.4 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Native Title System — extension of funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Federal Court of Australia | - | - | - | - |
| National Native Title Tribunal | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.5 |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $72.9 million over four years to extend funding for the native title system. This will allow the Government to continue to pursue a more efficient system that increasingly resolves native title issues through agreement-making and mediation, rather than litigation.
Of the total funding, $13.3 million will be provided to the Attorney-General’s Department, $12.3 million to the Federal Court of Australia, $31.6 million to the National Native Title Tribunal and $15.7 million to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
The above apportionment includes a reallocation of $5.1 million over four years, from the National Native Title Tribunal to the Attorney-General’s Department. This will allow agencies to better meet the Government’s native title priorities, including examining the linkage between native title and economic development and the effective administration of the native title respondent funding programme.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Northern Territory Indigenous Interpreter Service — extension of funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.1 million in 2005-06 to continue the Northern Territory Indigenous Interpreter Service for another year. The current joint funding agreement with the Northern Territory Government expires on 30 June 2005.
The service is provided to facilitate better communication between Indigenous people, who do not speak English as their first language, and service providers in the areas of justice, health, employment, education and welfare.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Cultural resource collection — digitisation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | - |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | 3.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $12.0 million over three years (including $3.2 million in capital funding) to expand the scope of the project to digitise the cultural resource collection held by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. The continuation of this project will enable 40 per cent of the institute’s collection of Indigenous film, video, recorded sound and pictorial materials to be digitised. This will make the resources more accessible via the internet and help preserve them for future generations.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Remote Indigenous Students — tutorial support for students leaving their communities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Education, Science and Training | 1.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.1 |
The Government will provide $8.7 million over four years to provide one year’s intensive tutorial assistance and support for Indigenous students who leave their remote communities to attend local or metropolitan schools or boarding schools. Students will be eligible for up to four hours individual tutorial assistance a week, for up to 32 weeks. This initiative will apply to all students who move from 1 January 2006.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Aboriginal Employment Strategy — continuation of funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.1 |
The Government will provide $17.0 million over four years to continue the Aboriginal Employment Strategy and expand the number of sites from the existing three sites to an additional six in New South Wales.
The Strategy involves working with local industry to identify job opportunities for Indigenous Australians. It also provides Indigenous Australians with assistance to find jobs and provides mentoring once they are in employment. The Strategy operates in parallel to other employment services for Indigenous Australians.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Community Development Employment Projects — reform
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.2 million over four years to establish 15 additional Indigenous Employment Centres.
Indigenous Employment Centres were established in 2002 to provide links between Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) and the mainstream labour market in areas with good job opportunities. The centres assist CDEP participants to find and prepare for work outside the CDEP and support them while they are in employment. The additional centres will be funded through a reprioritisation within the Indigenous Employment Programme.
This measure forms part of the broader reforms to the CDEP programme. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations outlined the reforms in Building on Success — CDEP discussion paper 2005, launched on 21 February 2005. The CDEP programme will be refocused on three clear outcome streams: mainstream employment, community activities and business development, with funding agreements and fee structures to support the pursuit of outcomes in those streams. The CDEP programme involves funding of $561 million in 2005-06.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Indigenous Economic Development Strategy
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will develop an overarching Indigenous Economic Development Strategy to guide the delivery of existing programmes that provide economic development assistance to Indigenous people. The Strategy will rationalise a range of existing business programmes into four key streams of assistance, including Business Viability, Business Readiness, Capital and Ongoing Support (Mentoring). The Strategy will also use existing funds to establish Indigenous Business Brokers in Indigenous Coordination Centres, who will identify and foster local Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses.
The Strategy will draw on current mainstream and Indigenous-specific programmes, such as the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, the Indigenous Employment Programme, business elements of the Community Development Employment Projects programme, and programmes managed by Indigenous Business Australia, including the Business Development and Assistance Programme. The Strategy will utilise funding already provided in the forward estimates.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Healthy Indigenous Housing — continuation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Family and Community Services | 24.9 | 25.4 | 26.0 | 26.6 |
The Government will provide $102.8 million over four years to continue the Healthy Indigenous Housing initiative, further improving indigenous housing and associated infrastructure.
The measure will provide assistance for Indigenous Community rental providers, fund infrastructure construction and maintenance, and extend the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance programme for a further four years.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Indigenous health — Healthy for Life
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 11.2 | 21.3 | 30.4 | 39.4 |
The Government will provide $102.4 million over four years to help reduce adult chronic disease in Indigenous communities through targeted activities in maternal health, child health and chronic disease management.
The initiative will increase the availability of child and maternal health care and provide support for chronic disease self-management to improve prevention, early detection and management of chronic disease, providing improved long-term health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
The initiative also includes a workforce component designed to increase, through scholarships, the number of Indigenous Australians with health professional qualifications, building the skill base of Indigenous communities to improve local service delivery and employment prospects.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — National Illicit Drugs Strategy — capacity building in Indigenous communities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
The Government will provide $8.0 million over four years to develop and implement strategies to improve the capacity of Indigenous communities to address problems with alcohol and drug abuse.
The measure will involve working with Indigenous communities on broad-based prevention programmes to help reduce the adverse effects and harm caused by substance use.
Since 1997, the Government has spent approximately $1 billion on the National Illicit Drug Strategy across a number of portfolios. In 2004-05, $107.6 million was allocated to the Health and Ageing portfolio for the Strategy.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Primary Health Care Access Programme — additional funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 7.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 |
The Government will provide $40.0 million over four years to the Primary Health Care Access Programme to further improve access to health services for Indigenous Australians. This will build on the measures announced in the 1999-2000, 2001-02 and 2004-05 Budgets.
This additional funding will allow further primary health sites to be established and increase the capacity of existing clinics to further meet the range of health needs in Indigenous communities. This will include additional doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health workers.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Hearing Services Programme — extend eligibility
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
The Government will provide $10.1 million over four years to extend eligibility for the community service obligations element of the Hearing Services Programme to Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and over and to Community Development Employment Programme participants.
The community service obligations element of the Hearing Services Programme entitles eligible people to a free hearing assessment, a free hearing aid, fitting of the device, and follow-up services.
Older Indigenous Australians play important leadership roles in their communities. This role can be hampered by hearing loss. Extending eligibility to Indigenous Australians aged over 50 years will improve access to hearing services for almost 6000 Indigenous adults over the next four years, thus helping them to maintain their roles in the community, such as youth mentoring. Extending eligibility to the 36,000 participants in the Community Development Employment Programme will enhance their ability to contribute to the programme and increase their chance of taking up other employment opportunities.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Combating Petrol Sniffing
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
The Government will provide $9.6 million over four years to help reduce the incidence of petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities through an expansion of the Comgas Scheme to an additional 23 communities. This will bring the total number of communities involved in the scheme to 60 by the end of the fourth year. The Comgas Scheme subsidises the cost of supplying alternative fuels to indigenous communities containing low levels of aromatic hydrocarbons, making them unattractive to petrol sniffers.
The initiative will also replace the current leaded fuel substitute Avgas with Opal, an unleaded fuel that also contains no aromatic hydrocarbons and was specifically designed for the Comgas Scheme.
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Shared Responsibility Agreements and community engagement — Implementation Assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $85.9 million over four years to continue the Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRA) Implementation Assistance programme and to extend it to include arrangements for community and regional engagements.
The SRA Implementation Assistance programme is a flexible pool used to fund activities (including cross-agency activities) under SRAs agreed between the Australian Government and Indigenous communities. The programme is to be extended to support the development of new arrangement for community engagement, replacing the existing formal network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Regional Councils.
The SRA process aims to ensure government investment meets community needs. The agreements spell out what all partners — communities, governments and others — will contribute to help bring about sustainable long-term changes.
Continued funding for SRAs and for community and engagement arrangements will be fully offset from the reallocation of resourcing for ex-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services programmes (of $76.4 million over four years) and from Departmental funds earmarked for ATSIC Regional Council operations in 2004-05 but not required ($4.7 million per year in 2005-06 and 2006-07 only).
Addressing Indigenous Needs — Indigenous Communities Mining Industry Working in Partnership programme — extension
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.0 million over four years ($0.5 million per annum) to continue the Indigenous Communities/Mining Industry Working in Partnership programme. Through workshops and case studies, the programme promotes working relationships between mining companies and Indigenous communities on issues including access to land, employment and business opportunities and education and training. This measure is aimed at helping indigenous communities share in the benefits of resource development and promoting the recognition of cultural differences.
The cost of this measure will be absorbed within existing resources of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Other measures in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio
Australian immigration representation in Brasilia — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.5 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to maintain funding for Australia’s immigration services to the South American region.
This measure will involve funding of $0.3 million in 2005-06 and $0.4 million in each year from 2006-07 to 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Illegal Foreign Fishers — improving compliance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 8.8 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 8.1 |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 8.3 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.8 |
| Total | 17.0 | 17.2 | 17.5 | 17.8 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 7.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide additional funding of $77.9 million over five years (including $1.1 million in 2004-05) to establish the Coonawarra facility in Darwin as a joint fisheries/migration detention facility, and to continue the rapid repatriation programme for illegal foreign fishers.
This funding will also improve oversight and management of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s foreign fishing compliance programme, improve quarantine arrangements for apprehended fishing vessels and establish transitional land-based accommodation at Horn Island, Queensland.
Migration Programme — improving integrity of the family stream
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
The Government will provide $2.0 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to help improve the integrity of the family stream of the migration programme by putting in place arrangements for the referral of disputed domestic violence cases to an independent service provider for consideration.
In addition, under this measure, partner visa holders will now only be eligible for a permanent visa two years after their provisional visa has been granted, rather than two years after applying for their visa, as is currently the case. This change will ensure that provisional visa holders and their partners reside together for a reasonable period before the provisional visa holder becomes eligible for the permanent visa.
Changes to tighten eligibility will also be made to the Remaining Relative category and the Close Ties provisions in light of minor abuses of the existing provisions.
Migration Programme — increase of up to 20,000 skilled places
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Education, Science and Training | 15.3 | 20.6 | 30.5 | 35.9 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | 12.6 | 38.8 | 67.2 | 98.2 |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 4.9 | 10.2 | 11.0 | 11.3 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | 2.8 | 8.7 | 28.5 | 62.9 |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.5 | 0.5 | 12.5 | 32.8 |
| Total | 36.2 | 78.8 | 149.7 | 241.1 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 |
The Government will provide $37.4 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to increase the number of Skill stream places by up to 20,000 in the 2005-06 Migration (non-Humanitarian) Programme.
The overall increase in the programme to a range of 130,000 to 140,000 places will also result in estimated increased revenue of $21.6 million over four years from visa application charges.
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 estimated at $102.9 million for the Department of Health and Ageing, $102.3 million for the Department of Education, Science and Training, $46.4 million for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and $216.7 million for the Department of Family and Community Services.
Migration Programme — industry outpost positions
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
The Government will provide $4.9 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to outpost officers to ten key industry peak bodies. These officers will provide a direct point of contact and expert support in order to maximise industry involvement in the skilled migration process.
Migration Programme — seasonal harvest workers — increased working holiday makers
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.5 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $6.8 million (including $0.5 million in capital funding) over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to meet visa processing and program integrity costs associated with the increasing number of working holiday makers who undertake seasonal work in regional Australia.
Seasonal labour shortages affect agricultural industries in regional Australia. This funding will allow Working Holiday Maker visa holders to apply for a second visa if the applicant has worked in a regional area for three months during their initial stay.
Expanding the number of Working Holiday Makers will also result in an estimated increase in revenue of $7.0 million over four years raised through visa application charges.
Migration Programme — Trade Skills Training Visa — arrangement for regional Australia
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| Total | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.9 million over four years (including $0.2 million in capital funding) to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and $6.3 million over four years to the Department of Education, Science and Training, to enable full fee-paying overseas trainees to undertake New Apprenticeships in regional Australia. On completion of apprenticeships, the overseas trainees will be able to apply for state-specific and regional migration visas. This funding will assist in addressing shortages of tradespeople in regional areas.
Introducing this visa category will also result in an estimated increase in revenue of $11.9 million over four years, which will be raised through visa application charges.
Migration Programme — Two-Stage Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | .. | .. | .. |
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | -1.3 | -7.7 | -17.9 |
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | -2.8 | -11.4 | -21.3 |
| Total | 0.6 | -3.9 | -18.7 | -38.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.4 | - | - | - |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | 0.4 |
The Government will provide $2.3 million (including $0.4 million in capital funding) over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to improve the effectiveness of existing arrangements for Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visas, by replacing current arrangements with a two-stage process.
Under the new arrangements, Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa holders will be required to live in the same designated area as their sponsor for a minimum of two years and work in the designated area for at least one year before they become eligible to apply for permanent residence. This will encourage better dispersal of skilled migrants to designated areas.
Introducing a two-stage visa process is expected to increase revenue by $0.4 million over four years from visa application charges.
Implementing this initiative will also result in savings over the period 2006-07 to 2008-09 of $35.4 million for the Department of Health and Ageing; $26.9 million for the Department of Family and Community Services; and $44,000 for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. These savings accrue because temporary visa holders will no longer have access to a range of government services and benefits, such as subsidised medical and pharmaceutical services and social security payments.
Onshore processing of students in the points tested categories — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.0 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to maintain funding to allow overseas students who have completed their study in Australia to apply for migration and to be processed under the General Skilled Migration points tested categories.
This measure will involve funding of $1.0 million in each year from 2005-06 to 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Overseas skills recognition — establishment and maintenance of a web portal for information and registration processes
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
The Government will contribute $1.0 million over four years towards the establishment and maintenance of a national skills web portal. The portal will be developed in conjunction with state and territory governments and will provide access to information about services for recognition and licensing in Australia of skills and qualifications gained overseas.
People smuggling — package to mitigate threats, gaps and vulnerabilities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Australian Secret Intelligence Service | .. | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Department of Defence | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Secret Intelligence Service | 0.3 | 0.1 | - | - |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.3 | - | - | - |
| Total | 0.6 | 0.1 | - | - |
The Government will provide $14.3 million (including $0.7 million in capital funding) over four years to enhance the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs’ ability to respond to people smuggling developments and for intelligence support involving the Department of Defence and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. The Department of Defence will absorb the costs of its involvement.
The capital funding will meet the cost of establishing secure communication networks and the cost of office fit-out for overseas posts.
Promotion of Australian Citizenship — additional funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $1.0 million in 2005-06 for promotional activities to encourage a higher take-up rate of Australian Citizenship.
Since 2002-03, the Government has provided funding of $1.0 million per annum to encourage eligible permanent residents to take out citizenship. This measure will further bolster the 2005-06 promotional campaign.
Skilled migration promotion
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 9.5 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 10.2 |
The Government will provide $19.7 million over four years to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) for the promotion of the temporary and permanent skilled migration mechanisms available to assist Australian employers in overcoming skills shortages. This will be undertaken through initiatives including seminars for employers, advertising DIMIA programmes in trade and industry publications, attendance at overseas trade fairs and the development of better links between trade and industry websites and the DIMIA website.
These promotional activities will also result in an estimated increase in revenue of $39.2 million over four years from visa application charges, due to the increased number of applicants. This estimate is based on an expected 5,000 extra visa applications per annum because of promotional activities.
See also the related expense measure Migration Programme — increase of up to 20,000 Skilled places in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.