Rally a Reminder of Australia’s Support for Refugees
Minister for Immigration, Senator Amanda Vanstone, today welcomed the rally at Parliament House in Canberra in support of refugees.
‘The rally is a timely opportunity to remind people about the generosity of Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program,’ Minister Vanstone said.
‘The Program costs Australian taxpayers approximately $500 million a year, or $2 billion over a four-year budget cycle. This is a significant contribution by Australia to those people most in need of protection.
‘The Australian Government has this year (2004-05) increased its refugee intake by 50%, to 6000 places out of a total of 13 000 places within the Program.
‘Australian taxpayers fund all travel, medical and settlement costs for these 6000 people, most of whom will come from refugee camps in Africa and who have been assessed by the UNHCR as being in most desperate need of refugee protection.
‘From this financial year, Australian taxpayers are also funding medical costs for the 7000 people to be granted Special Humanitarian visas under the Program and $2.5 million has been provided to establish a community based no-interest loans scheme to assist with travel to Australia.
‘My Department’s annual report, tabled in Parliament yesterday, shows that 13 851 visas were granted under the Program in 2003-04. This large intake was achieved as a result of greater flexibility in the Program, introduced in 1999, to allow for carry over of unused places and/or the bringing forward of places between program years.
‘Australia’s commitment to ensuring protection for those most in need cannot be questioned. It is why Australia is ranked behind only the United States and Canada in the size of its refugee intake.
‘While many commentators and speakers like those at today’s rally focus on the claims of people who have been found not to be in need of protection, it’s important to remember that Australia has a long history of bipartisan support for providing protection to those most in need.’
