Australia will spend nearly $812m on its offshore immigration processing system next year – just under $3.4m for each of the 239 people now held on Nauru or in Papua New Guinea. On the figures presented in Tuesday’s budget, it costs Australian taxpayers $9,305 every day for each person held offshore. The home affairs portfolio budget papers forecast $811.8m to be spent on offshore management next financial year, before dropping to a little over.
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The federal government is actively considering parts of a Canadian-style model which allows refugees to be resettled if they are sponsored by community members.
Canada has welcomed more than 300,000 refugees under the community sponsorship scheme since the 1970s, in addition to those arriving under government-funded programs.
Australia s government is looking favourably at some elements similar to Canada s community scheme, SBS News has confirmed.
Commonwealth coordinator-general for migrant services Alison Larkins last week handed the findings of a review into Australia s current refugee support arrangements to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.
The review was based off feedback from local stakeholders, international counterparts in Canada, as well as the United Kingdom and Ireland, who have adopted similar models, and the UNHCR.
Last modified on Mon 10 May 2021 14.27 EDT
More than 20 community groups are prepared to immediately begin privately sponsoring refugees to Australia should the federal government approve a new program modelled on a Canadian policy.
Guardian Australia reported on Monday that the government was looking favourably at elements of a Canadian refugee sponsorship scheme in which private groups or community organisations cover the financial costs and settlement support for humanitarian entrants.
Canada’s program, established in the 1970s, has welcomed more than 300,000 refugees over four decades, in addition to the government’s resettlement schemes.
Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, told the Guardian he looked forward to “ensuring the program becomes a genuine, successful partnership between community, business and the government”.
Refugee Council welcomes Govt extension of visas for people from Myanmar
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Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia
The Australian Government’s decision to extend visas for people currently in Australia from Myanmar is a compassionate measure which will directly save the lives of people opposed to Myanmar’s violent military coup.
In taking this step, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has clearly listened to the concerns of international students, asylum seekers and refugees on temporary visas deeply worried about the risks they would face if forced to return home.
Many Myanmar nationals in Australia will now sleep much easier, knowing that the Australian Government has acknowledged the stress they have faced since the coup took place three months ago.