How many refugees are there in australia

Historically, boat arrivals only made up a small proportion of asylum applicants—estimates vary, but it is likely that between 96 and 99 per cent of asylum applicants arrived by air. In the proportions of irregular maritime arrival IMA and non-IMA that is air arrival asylum seekers shifted due to a significant increase in boat arrivals. However, in —14 the proportions shifted back and the majority of applications Note: September and December quarter statistics not available.

Although the proportion of asylum seekers arriving by boat has increased significantly in the last few years, and boat arrivals continue to be the focus of much public and political attention, they are in fact more likely to be recognised as refugees than those who have arrived by air. For example, the final protection visa grant rate for asylum seekers from the top country of citizenship for boat arrivals Afghanistan has varied between about 96 and per cent since ; while the final protection visa grant rate for those applying for asylum from one of the top country of citizenship for air arrivals China is usually only around 20 to 30 per cent.

The reason this Whereas the majority of those arriving by boat are refugees, the majority of those arriving by air are not. However, it is interesting to note that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of protection visas granted to non-IMA asylum seekers arriving by air. For example, in —13 the top ten countries of citizenship for non-IMAs granted protection visas included six with high grant rates—Pakistan As mentioned earlier, under current Government policy, asylum seekers attempting to arrive in Australia by boat may be turned around and returned to international waters, or transferred to offshore processing centres.

Presumably the subsequent drop in boat arrival numbers will result in a return to the historical norm whereby the majority of those applying for protection onshore in Australia will have arrived originally by air with a valid visa. In the case of Europe, the figures on irregular migration are not as reliable due to its porous borders. While unauthorised arrival figures for Australia are more precise owing to our geography, those for Europe are only estimates.

We know how many unauthorised arrivals there are in Australia because we are able to monitor unauthorised boat arrivals in Australian waters and all air arrivals at Australian airports.

For example, historically in Italy only about 15 per cent of irregular migrants arrive by sea. The vast majority of asylum seekers arrive in Italy within mixed migratory flows, travelling alongside irregular migrants, including victims of trafficking, through highly dangerous channels managed by smugglers.

Whilst some of these arrive by air or by land, some 70 per cent of asylum seekers in Italy are now estimated to arrive by sea. Unauthorised boat arrivals have always undergone comprehensive security and health checks.

In the past, asylum seekers were usually transferred to Christmas Island initially where the following checks were made:. Unauthorised arrivals, regardless of whether they arrive on the mainland or at an excised offshore place, undergo a comprehensive and thorough assessment process, including security checking, to establish if they have a legitimate reason for staying in Australia.

This process includes assessing identities, as many people dispose of all personal papers en route to Australia; assessing whether the person is raising claims which may engage Australia's protection obligations; and obtaining formal police clearances from countries of first asylum in which they have resided for at least 12 months, to confirm they are of good character The department has a comprehensive process for checking the health of unauthorised arrivals. An initial health assessment is conducted to identify conditions that will require attention.

This assessment includes the collection of personal and medical history, a physical examination and formalised mental health screening and assessment. All unauthorised arrivals can access appropriate health care commensurate with the level of care available to the broader community.

A discharge health assessment is completed for each person leaving any immigration detention placement. This assessment includes the provision of a health discharge summary from the Health Services Manager to the individual, which informs future health providers of relevant health history, treatment received during detention and any ongoing treatment regimes. Where appropriate, linkages are made with relevant community health providers to facilitate ongoing care beyond discharge.

Depending on the individual circumstances, reasons for entering and country of origin, temporary visa applicants may also be required to undergo a health examination. Asylum seekers who arrive by boat are subject to the same assessment criteria as all other asylum applicants. Past figures show that between 70 and per cent of asylum seekers arriving by boat at different times have been found to be refugees and granted protection either in Australia or in another country.

In contrast, asylum claims from people who enter Australia by air on a valid visa and subsequently apply for asylum have not had such high success rates historically and the majority have not been found to be refugees. This is demonstrated by the lower protection visa grant rates for non-IMAs air arrivals of around 45 per cent annually.

In other words, past figures show that more asylum seekers who arrived by boat have been recognised as refugees than those who entered Australia by air. Historically, successful onshore applicants boat and air arrivals usually only make up a relatively small proportion of the total number of refugees and other humanitarian entrants accepted by Australia each year—usually in the region of 17 to 20 per cent.

For example:. The following material has been reproduced from L Buckmaster and J Guppy, Australian Government assistance to refugees: fact v fiction , Background note, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, In recent years, a series of emails have been widely circulated throughout Australia claiming to describe the social security entitlements for refugees, compared with those of other Australian residents.

A common claim in these emails is that refugees in Australia receive higher social security benefits than age pensioners. Some also suggest that refugees receive free gifts such as houses. In , the Commission conducted a National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention , an investigation aimed at examining the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and development of children.

Back to main Face the Facts page All people are entitled to protection of their human rights, including the right to seek asylum, regardless of how or where they arrive in Australia. Our role The Commission undertakes extensive work in the area of Australian law, policy and practice relating to asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detention. However, it is not known how many such applications are made and successfully lead to visa grant.

The reality is that the majority of asylum seekers who have fled persecution will, by practical necessity, register with UNHCR for protection, assistance, and if necessary and if deemed eligible resettlement to another country. Though refugees may be assessed by UNHCR as eligible for resettlement, in reality they face a potentially indefinite waiting period for a resettlement country to offer them a resettlement place depending on the urgency of their individual needs.

This process has been likened to a hospital triage system in which needs are constantly reassessed in order to prioritise the most acute cases. Despite the iconic image of refugees living in white tents in a sprawling emergency camp, the reality is that over 60 per cent of the world's Refugee resettlement is a voluntary scheme coordinated by the UNHCR which facilitates burden and responsibility sharing amongst countries that are party to the Refugee Convention. Significantly, UNHCR emphasises that resettlement should complement and not be a substitute for the provision of protection to persons who apply for asylum under the Convention for example, spontaneous arrivals such as asylum seekers arriving by boat.

As the following table indicates, the number of offshore refugee category visas granted since has varied greatly, the highest number being in the early s under the Fraser Government when Australia granted 20, visas mostly to Indochinese , and the lowest being 1, ten years later under the Hawke Government. From onwards, the Government has slightly increased the annual quota of refugee visas to its current level of around 6, visas—where it has remained for the last ten years with one notable exception.

The most dramatic increase was under the former Labor Government in when the number of offshore refugee visas granted doubled to over 12, in one year in response to the recommendation of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers.

It is relevant to note that family members included in the application of a refugee who has successfully applied for an offshore refugee visa subclass will generally also be granted the same visa.

Australia has been involved in the UNHCR resettlement program since and has consistently ranked as one of the top three resettlement countries in the world. Permanent migrants enter Australia via one of two distinct programs—the Migration Program for skilled and family migrants or the Humanitarian Program for refugees and humanitarian entrants.

In fact, the number of visas currently allocated to UNHCR assisted refugees is the lowest percentage of the Migration Program for more than twenty years only 3. The following table compares the number of permanent visas granted to refugees resettled from overseas with UNHCR assistance with the number of permanent visas granted to migrants under the Migration Program over the last twenty years:.

In early May each year, when announcing its annual Federal Budget, the Government traditionally reveals how many permanent visas will be granted in the forthcoming financial year under its Humanitarian Program.

However, at the end of , section 39A was inserted into the Migration Act Thus, the number of visas to be made available under the Humanitarian Program for the next three years to mid has already been revealed.

In the financial year, the Government has maintained the annual intake quota under the Humanitarian Program at 13, places. Places available to SHP visa entrants currently 5, should be distinguished from places allocated to refugees. The SHP visa is for people who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country— not for refugees fleeing persecution for a Convention reason.

It might involve:. Visa applicants under the SHP must also be supported by a proposer an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, or an organisation that is based in Australia who is responsible for their settlement. This could include airfares for them to travel to Australia, providing accommodation upon arrival, assisting them to find permanent accommodation, and providing information and orientation assistance. The Government does not pay the travel costs for people who are granted an SHP visa.

Traditionally, most of the places available under the SHP are taken up by family members of refugees and humanitarian entrants already in Australia. The following table compares the number of visas granted to refugees resettled from overseas with UNHCR assistance with the number of visas that have been granted under the Humanitarian Program over the last 20 years:.

Successive governments have made ad-hoc announcements that specific groups of refugees are to be resettled to Australia. Often these announcements are in response to mounting public pressure for humanitarian intervention. In contrast, on 9 September , the Australian Government announced that it would make 12, visas available in response to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. While these places are in addition to the annual Humanitarian Programme intake currently 13, places , they are not technically an increase to the annual Humanitarian Programme.

Rather, these additional 12, places are being offered under a parallel initiative to supplement the annual Humanitarian Programme quota. The number of permanent visas available under the Migration Program for skilled and family migrants has been steadily increasing in recent years to , visas per annum. In contrast, the number of visas available under the Humanitarian Program has been maintained at a relatively steady number between 12, and 13, since The most significant departure from this trend was in — when the former Labor Government, acting on a recommendation of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers, increased the Humanitarian Program to 20, visas with 12, being specifically allocated to the resettlement of overseas refugees.

In making this recommendation, the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers considered that there were a number benefits in increasing the Humanitarian Program:. However, within six months of coming into power in , the current Coalition Government announced that, acting upon an election commitment, it had reduced the number of refugees that would be resettled in —14 from 12, to 7, Over the last few years, there have been consistent calls for the Humanitarian Program to be increased.

By this measure, Australia recognised or resettled 23, refugees in 1. As numbers vary considerably across different countries from year to year, it is more useful to look at these statistics over a year period. Between January and December , Australia recognised or resettled , refugees. This represented 0. Attachments Download document PDF