Increase in Australian visas for Humanitarian Program

May 13 2009 by Gareth McConnell

DIAC issues more humanitarian visas

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship have announced an increase in the number of Australian visas available via the humanitarian route.

In 2008/09 the country welcomed 7,500 new immigrants on special humanitarian visas and a further 6,000 on refugee protection visas, in 2009/10 Australian immigration will budget for an additional 250 visas.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans said that people escaping war or experiencing persecution in their homeland would experience greater support and aid from Australia in the future.

"Our move this year to a four-year planning framework will give us greater flexibility in responding to emerging humanitarian situations as they arise. It will also allow Australia to make a longer-term commitment to the resettlement of refugees in protracted situations, many of whom have been languishing in camps for years.

“These changes will entrench our non-return obligations in law and provide for all claims to be considered efficiently in one process."

Australia has experienced a flood of refugees in recent months, with thousands of boat peopleon the move to Australia from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

In March a boat carrying 47, mostly Afghan asylum seekers, exploded off the coast of Western Australia killing 5 and badly injuring many others.

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