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The Government is strongly committed to helping refugees and people who have faced serious abuse of their human rights. The Government has approved a Migration (Humanitarian) Programme of 12,000 places for 2001-02, the same programme level as for 2000-01. This reflects Australia's staunch commitment to play its part in international humanitarian crises by resettling in Australia people who face persecution, discrimination or similar abuse of human rights. In 1999-2000, approximately 6,000 females were assisted through this programme.
The Government has announced a Migration (non-Humanitarian) Programme of 85,000 places for 2001-02, including 37,900 places in the Family Stream and 45,500 places in the Skill Stream. The increase of over 4,000 places in the Family Stream reflects the increased demand for the migration of spouses and fiancées, over 60 per cent of whom are women.
The Government announced in February 2001 that it is considering issues involved in a trial alternative arrangement for women and children required by Australian law to be in immigration detention. A key aim of the trial is to create an environment for women and children that is as "normal" as possible, albeit that they will still be formally in detention under migration legislation.