Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
A Safer Australia - enhanced border protection processing systems
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
The Government will provide $7.9 million in capital over four years to enhance and develop systems to more accurately verify the identity of persons of concern, such as terrorists and other international criminals, thereby reducing the risk of unlawful entry to Australia. The measure includes funding for scoping the development and implementation of a common information technology platform to integrate Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs operations both within and outside Australia.
See also the related expense measure titled A Safer Australia - enhanced border protection processing systems in the A Safer Australia package in the Attorney-General's portfolio.
A Safer Australia - relocation of operations in Manila
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $2.5 million in 2002-03 to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to relocate Australian Government operations in Manila. This funding will be used to meet the costs associated with the fitout of the new premises and the termination of the lease agreement on the previous accommodation. The decision to relocate operations to a more secure environment was made due to a significant and credible terrorist threat.
Immigration detention onshore - review of long-term strategy
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 5.6 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.6 million in capital in 2003-04 to enhance fire compliance and detainee management options at the Baxter immigration detention facility (near Port Augusta), and to support alternative detention arrangements for women and children, through the provision of an alternative detention facility near the Baxter detention facility. The alternative detention facility will be modelled on the residential housing facility trialed at Woomera over the past 18 months.
See also the related expense measure titled Immigration detention onshore - review of long-term strategy in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
International Education - Professional Development Visa
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 1.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.0 million in 2003-04 for the development and implementation of information technology systems, including an e-visa lodgement process, to support the introduction of the sponsored Professional Development Visa.
The new visa is designed to open up niche markets for the Australian international education industry and for organisations that provide tailored workshops for groups of professionals and government employees.
These new arrangements will allow education providers more flexible entry arrangements for clients in exchange for comprehensive sponsorship obligations and sanctions for breaches of visa conditions. These initiatives are intended to support the integrity of the visa regime, while providing a responsive, high-quality service to Australian business.
See also the related revenue and expense measures titled International Education - rofessional Development Visa in the International Education Package in the Education, Science and Training portfolio.