Appendix A: Policy Decisions taken since the 2012-13 Budget (Continued)
Expense Measures (Continued)
Immigration and Citizenship
Biometrics — introduction into selected Australian visa processing arrangements overseas
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
The Government will provide $0.4 million over four years from 2012‑13 to enhance border security and identity verification in visa processing arrangements. The funding will enable the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to broaden the biometrics collection policy to include e‑lodged applications and to expand the biometrics program to Cambodia.
This builds on the measure Biometrics for visa and border processing — commencement announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2009‑10.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resources of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Response to the expert panel — Humanitarian migration program — additional places from 2012‑13
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | 92.4 | 107.4 | 114.0 | 117.9 |
| Related revenue ($m) | |||||
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | 0.6 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
The Government will provide $432.4 million over four years to increase the humanitarian migration program by an additional 6,250 places from 2012‑13 onwards. This increase will take the total Humanitarian Program to 20,000 places per annum. Places for offshore refugees will have a greater focus on asylum seeker flows from South East Asia and source countries for Irregular Maritime Arrivals.
The cost of this measure reflects the direct impact of changes in the Humanitarian Program for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Consequential impacts from changes in the Humanitarian Program on other Government programs have been reflected in the estimates separately.
This measure forms part of the Government's response to the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers.
Response to the expert panel — Irregular Migration — research
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
The Government will provide $6.0 million over two years from 2012‑13 to research the drivers of irregular migration, methods of transport between source, transit and destination countries and to better understand migration pathways used by asylum seekers.
The research program will be developed in partnership with migration experts. It will be managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship through an advisory body of academics with expertise in migration matters, relevant non‑government organisations and senior government officials from relevant agencies.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
This measure forms part of the Government response to the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers.
Response to the expert panel — Permanent migration program — additional family stream places from 2012‑13
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | 8.2 | 13.7 | 15.8 | 17.0 |
| Related revenue ($m) | |||||
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
The Government will provide $54.6 million over four years to increase the family stream of the Migration Program by an additional 4,000 places from 2012‑13 onwards. This increase will take the total Migration Program to 194,000 places, up from 190,000 places at the 2012‑13 Budget. The increase in the family stream will assist in meeting the continued demand for family reunion visas and alleviate pressure on the Special Humanitarian Program.
The cost of this measure reflects the direct impact of changes in the family stream of the Migration Program for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Consequential impacts from changes in the Migration Program on other Government programs have been reflected in the estimates separately.
This measure forms part of the Government's response to the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers.
Response to the expert panel — Regional capacity building initiatives
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Citizenship | ‑ | 10.0 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
The Government will provide $10.0 million in 2012‑13 to strengthen the regional cooperation framework through capacity building initiatives that provide protection for asylum seekers and displaced persons. This measure will support governments and international organisations to strengthen the region's capacity to manage migration.
This measure forms part of the Government response to the Report of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers and builds on the 2011‑12 MYEFO measure Regional Cooperation Framework — establishment of a regional support office.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 23 August 2012 issued by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
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