In 2000, all except the number of people who were born in Europe and the former USSR increased compared to those in 1997. In 2000, the outstanding increases over 1997 of Australian residents born in New Zealand and China were about 47,000 and 33,000 respectively.
- Components of overseas migration
Appendix 6 shows overseas migration from 1996 to 2002. The permanent arrivals in 1996 were 92,502 and increased by about 8,000 to 100,888 in 2001.
- Permanent (settler) arrivals by country of birth
Appendix 7 shows Australian permanent (settler) arrivals by country of birth. The major groups of the permanent arrivals in 2000 are from 1. Oceania and Antarctica (28.44%), 2. Europe and the former USSR (19.42%), 3. Southeast Asia (12.83%), 4. Northeast Asia (12.5%), 5. Southern Asia (9.87%), 6. Africa (7.83%), 7. Middle East and north Africa (6.47%), 8. the Americans (2.55%), and 9. other and not stated (0.05%). The ranks are the same for 2001.
The most permanent arrivals to Australia are from New Zealand (23,344) followed by United Kingdom (8,701) and China (7,255) in 2000. These are the top three countries in the next year as well.
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Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003) Overseas Arrivals and Departures, February 2003, Cat. no. 3401.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Permanent arrivals settlers
Appendix 8 illustrates arrivals to Australia by category of movement. The permanent arrivals settlers in 2000 are 97,180, increased to 100,890 in 2001 and decreased to 89,350 in 2002. (year ended 31 December).
- Permanent (settler) arrivals by country of birth
Appendix 9 is permanent (settler) arrivals by country of birth. For the year ended December data, people came mostly from Oceania and Antarctica, followed by Europe and the Former USSR, and Southeast Asia in 2001. However, the number of people from Oceania and Antarctica fell to No. 2 in 2002. That is reflected by the decrease from New Zealand (21,210 to 14,080) by 7,130. On the whole, less people migrated to Australia in 2002 compared to the previous year
- Category of arrivals
ABS Cat. No. 3401 (2003:17-18) categorizes movement of overseas arrivals into three:
- Travellers holding migrant visas.
- New Zealand citizens indicating an intention to settle.
- People who are otherwise eligible to settle.
- Overseas visitors intending to stay in Australia for over 12 months (not permanently).
- Australian residents who return after over 12 months absence overseas
- Overseas visitors intending to stay in Australia less than 12 months.
- Australian residents who return after 12 months or less absence overseas.
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Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs, (2003)
- Immigration background
- Humanitarian Program
The Australian government helps refugees and people who have suffered from discrimination. It has mainly three components (abstract):
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Refugee: for people who meet the United Nations Convention definition of a refugee and have been identified in conjunction with UNHCR as in need of resettlement;
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Special Humanitarian Program (SHP): for those who have suffered discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights, displacement or hardship, and who have strong support from an Australian citizen or permanent resident in Australia; and,
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Onshore Protection Visa Grants: for refugees granted Protection Visas in Australia.
From July 1998 to June 2002, 47,416 people gained Humanitarian Program visas: 15,946 refugees, 14,773 Special Humanitarian, 2,758 Special Assistance visas overseas, and 13,754 visas to refugees in Australia. Another 170 asylum seekers were able to remain temporarily in Australia under Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas.
- Migration Program
There are two categories: Skill Stream and Family Stream.
Family Stream--potential migrant can be sponsored by a relative who is an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
Skill Stream--It is designed to contribute to economic growth in Australia. It is for migrants who have particular occupational skills, outstanding talents or business skills which are demanded in Australia. The examples are employer nomination, business skills, independent visas, etc.
The Australian government ensures a shift to Skilled migrants continues from Family Stream migrants, and at least 58% of new migrants are chosen from the Skill Stream.
These programs do not include New Zealand citizens because Australian and New Zealand citizens are allowed to visit, live and work in each country.
- Settler arrival figures
NB: 2000-01 figures not yet available due to technical problems.
Figure1 Settler arrival
Source: DIMIA, http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/02key.htm
Settler arrivals—people f permanent residence who actually arrived in Australia including New Zealanders.
Net permanent migration—people arriving in Australia permanently minus people departing permanently.
Figure 1 shows settler arrivals were peak in 1995-96 with 99,100 from 1992-93 to 2001-02. So were the net permanent migrations with 70,500. The net permanent migration in 2001-02 is least in the period.
- Migrant statistics 1988-89 to 2001-02
(a) Combination of Migration and Humanitarian Programs.
(b) Includes an adjustment for the effect of 'category' jumpers (i.e. persons changing travel intentions).
(c) Includes Skill Stream contingency reserve
(p) Net Overseas Migration is preliminary for 1999-00.
NB: The numbers in the Program outcome column followed by MP refer to the Migration (non-Humanitarian) Program only.
Figure 2 Migrant statistics 1988-89 to 2001-02
Source: the Public Affairs Section of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. Revised on 4 November 2001. in DIMIA,
Australia received migrants:
- 1.6 million between 1945 October and 1960 June
- 1.3 million in the 1960s
- 960,000 in the 1970s
- 1.1 million in the 1980s
- 900,000 in the 1990s
Since the post-war migration program started in October 1945 to June 2000, over 6 million have migrated to Australia. The highest number of settler arrivals since the World War II was 185,099 in 1969-70.
These numbers and figure 2 show there were only 1.6 million migrants to Australia for 15 years from 1945 to 1960. Then, the numbers for each 10 years from the1960s to 1990s decreased except in the 1980s. The number of settler arrivals dropped by about 63% from 1988-89 data to 1999-00 data.
- Settler arrivals by country of birth
Source: DIMIA,
Figure 3. Settler arrivals by country of birth
The outstanding county of birth of the settle arrivals from July 2001 to June 2002 is New Zealand with 17.6% (15,663). United Kingdom is ranked No. 2 with 9.8% (8,749), and China is No. 3 with 7.5% (6,708).
- Settler arrivals by region of birth
Figure 4. Settler arrivals by region of birth for 1991-92
Figure 5. Settler arrivals by region of birth between July 2001 and June 2002
Source for figures 4 and 5: DIMIA, http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/02key.htm
Comparing settler arrivals by region of birth for 1991-92 (figure 4) and between July 2001 and June 2002 (figure 5), people from Oceania increased from 9.6% to 21.5% and Africa 2.6 % to 10.6%. On the other hand, less settler arrivals are born in Europe & former USSR from 25.0% to 19.6%, Southeast Asia from 20.8% to 16.3% and Northeast Asia 20.0% to 12.1%.
Settler arrivals by birth moved from Oceania to these three in the ten years.
The 2001 census shows about 23% of the Australian population were born overseas: with about 33% from North-West Europe (United Kingdom and Ireland mainly), 18.9% Southern and Eastern Europe and 12.1% South-East Asia. As for countries, the overseas born are from United Kingdom (25%), New Zealand (9%), and Italy (5%).
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Healey, J. (ed.) (2000) Issues in Society—Multiculturalism, vol. 126, NSW: The Spinney Press
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‘Australia: a culturally diverse society’ (pp4-7) from DFAT Fact Sheet No 2 published by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, February, 1998
- Where today’s Australians were born
Australia 76.7%
UK and Ireland 6.6%
Continental Europe 6.4%
Asia 5.0%
Oceania 2.1%
Middle East & North Africa 1.2%
Other parts of the world 2.0%
Figure 6. Where today’s Australians were born
Figure 6 shows Australians’ countries of origin. 76.7% were born in Australia, followed by UK and Ireland (6.6%).
- Multicultural policy
The Australian government setout principles in the 1989 National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia. They have rights and obligations including the equality of treatment and opportunities, and the obligation of accepting the right to express their own cultures and beliefs. They apply to all Australians equally, regardless of their background. Australian multicultural policies have three steps:
- Assimilation from 1901 to the mid-1960s
This was for mainly British migrants (non-European immigration was excluded).
- Integration from the mid-1960s to 1972
The government started to allow non-European migrants in 1966. Because they needed more assistance, migrant assistance and welfare expenditure rose quickly in the early 1970s.
- Multiculturalism from 1972
With the advent of multiculturalism, some organizations were established such as the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs in 1979, which was replaced by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1987, then, it became the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. In 1997, the government started a new National Multicultural Advisory Council.
- Features of Australian immigration
Criminals and their guards from UK were the first migrants to Australia. From 1788, they were shipped here, and from the early 1790s, free immigrants were joined. The period between 1851 and 1860 was a peak with 50,000 people a year at the early migration stage. The world wars influenced migration: resettling of refugees and young people. About 5.6 million have immigrated to Australia from more than 150 countries in the last fifty years.
Immigration affects both the demand and supply of the Australian economy. Migration introduced over 100 languages into this country, caused community language schools, businesses, cultural activities, etc. Immigrants to Australia in the past fifty years are now among some of the leading business people in industry, research and professions in this country.
- Migration Program
Skilled Stream is for migrants with specific labor skills required by Australia. Family Stream is for migrants who can get sponsorship by an immediate family member. 35,000 and 30,500 places were allocated to each of them in 1998-99.
- Humanitarian Program
This is for refugees and people needing humanitarian help. The Australian government tries to let all Australians receive equal treatment and opportunity to strengthen community ethos and to help them build a lifestyle from their skills and talents.
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‘Migration’ (pp8-14) from Year Book Australia 1999 published by Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Permanent (settlers) arrivals to Australia—five Years Ended 30 June
The numbers are: 449,831 in 1982, 445,463 in 1987, 639,088 in 1992, and 418,417 in 1997. During this period, permanent arrivals peaked in 1992.
Source: Migration, Australia (3412.0)
- Birthplace of settler arrivals
United Kingdom and Ireland ranks high as birthplaces of setter arrivals to Australia. However, their rates decreased: 51.0% in 1963-67, 37.7% in 1973-77, 19.3% in 1983-87, and 12.9% in 1993-97. In 1993-97, New Zealand (13.0%) was higher than United Kingdom. Also, Asian born settler arrivals took place European arrivals gradually. In 1993-97, Asian born settler arrivals ranked high: China 3rd (7.0%), Viet Nam 4th (5.1%), Hong Kong 5th (4.8%), and Philippines 6th (4.2%).
- Settler arrivals by eligibility category (1991-92 to 1996-97)
Family and Skilled category settler arrivals are much more than those of humanitarian, New Zealand, and other categories from 1991-92 to 1996-97 though skilled category people decreased by more than half to 19,697 in 1996-97 from 40,334 in 1991-92. Humanitarian category had a peak in 1995-96 in this period. New Zealand category increased yearly and jumped double in 1996-97 with 17,501 from 8,201 in 1991-92.
Source: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
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Healey, J. (ed.) (2002) Issues in Society—Australia’s Immigration Debate, vol. 171, NSW: The Spinney Press
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‘The metropolitan melting pot’ p5 from the Australian 18 March 2002, p2
ABS shows 39.0% of migrant arrivals chose Sydney and 21.8% Melbourne from July 1996 to June 2001. From 1996-2001, 26% of English-speaking countries born people settled in Sydney and 12% in Melbourne. On the other hand, people born in Asia chose these two cities with high rates: for example, 72% of Lebanese chose Sydney, and 20% Melbourne; half of Chinese immigrants selected Sydney and a quarter moved to Melbourne.
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‘Population projections’ (pp7-9) from Population Flows: Immigration Aspects, 2001 Edition, from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
ABS projects Australia’s population grows to between 24.1 and 28.2 million in 2051 from 19.4 million in 2001. The population will increase slowly because its growth rate is slowing. Some insist migration increase will help slow the population aging and economy. Other groups argue it pressures Australia’s diverse and fragile environment and natural resources.
Problems on Australia’s population size through immigration are:
- support international humanitarian obligations
- commitment to family reunion
- skilled migration’s importance
- control lack of emigration
- limited influence on New Zealanders and temporary entries
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‘Quality of our way of life is at stake with mass immigration’ (pp22-23) from the Australian 11 March 2002, p9
The average number of children per woman is 1.75 in Australia. In order to achieve a population of assumed number 38 million, about 275,000 net overseas migrations would be needed every year for the next 50 years. However, the government cut the migration program by one-third. Therefore, New Zealanders went back or did not immigrate to Australia much, and NOM (permanent and long-term departures and an adjustment for category jumping subtracted by permanent and long-term arrivals) fell to 30,000 in 1993. The only way to keep high NOM could be to make the entry criteria fall dramatically as soon as possible.
However, the skill component of the migration program causes highly positive results: young, high-skilled, and English-speaking. Otherwise, it would limit wages and cause a more unemployment of the low-skilled.
So, to what degree to loosen entry criteria would be a problem.
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‘Small and well formed…let’s leave it that way’ (pp23-24) from the Australian, 18 March 2002, p13
Urban cities especially Sydney does not have capacity to support the population because of limitation of soil and water. Because of lack of water in inland Australia, those areas will not become large cities. So, where to settle immigration would be a matter.
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Healey, K. (ed.) (1995) Issues for the Nineties—Global Migration, vol. 47, NSW: The Spinney Press
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‘Migration trends and policies: an overview’ (pp1-3) from International Migration & Development Report of Secretary General, UN Economic & Social Council, June, 1995)
International migration is seen as a step of development process. During the 19th century, countries invited migrants as labors. In 1985, there were estimated 106 million migrants in the world. Since 1985, market-economy countries of Europe have increased migration intakes. For example, Western Germany (then) had about 3,000 migrants per year in 1980-1984, but the number increased to approximately 378,000 people a year during 1985-1989. The conflict still continues in the former Yugoslavia where people need protection: 3.8 million as of mid-1994, and 2.7 million of them were in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and half a million were in Croatia.
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‘Internally displaced persons’ (pp5-6) from Population & Development Vol. 1, UN Dept of Economic & Social Information & Policy Analysis, 1995)
Countless people become displaced in their countries because of natural disasters; environmental degradation, etc. Internal displacement is outflows of refugees and externally displaced people. The two main objectives are: 1. to protect and assist displaced people within the country, 2. to end all forced migration. Countries should search and suggest the causes of internal displacement, and make the required mechanism to protect these people. It is encouraged that government assist internally displaced people so that they can return to their places.
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‘Workers of the world: the facts’ (pp8-10) from First Call for Children, UNICEF January-March, 1995)
International migration is a phenomenon widely. Labor migration remits to the family. According to the World Bank, the estimated remittance value by these people through official channels was US$65 billion in 1989.
- ‘International migration: focus on women’ (pp10-14) from UN Dept of Public Information, New York January, 1995
International migrants have four categories:
- temporary or labor migrants for a specific job
- refugees who are defined by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- permanent migrants
- undocumented migrants (illegal migrants)
- Analysis
Permanent (settler) arrivals are mainly from United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ). The reasons for the UK would be: 1.first immigrants to Australia (criminals) were sent to Australia historically 2. Australia is a constitutional monarchy of which the UK queen is head. As for NZ, 1. there is Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement between Australia and NZ: Both citizens are allowed to visit, live, and work in each country. 2.NZ is close to Australia geographically. Because of these facts above and also people from Europe especially UK only were allowed to immigrate to Australia from 1901 to mid 1960, most Australian estimated resident population are born in Oceania & Antarctica (including Australia)(79%) followed by Europe and the former USSR (13%) as of 1999 June.
The number of settlers has decreased as a whole compared to the highest number 185,099 in 1969-70 (88,900 in 2001-02). Both male and female migrants to Australia are young (many are up to 39). The numbers between male and female migrants do not have a much difference as of 1999. NSW is a popular destination among settler arrivals.
Australia has migration and humanitarian programs. Migration program has Skilled and Family Streams. Both of them are ranked high as settler arrivals categories to this country. The government tries to shift to Skilled Stream in this program, but in fact, Skilled Stream settler arrivals in 1996-97 are less than half of those in 1991-92. The program leads high skilled-people and vitalizes Australian economy. The government also helps refugees and discriminated people in humanitarian program. This means Australia cooperates with the world in terms of helping such people.
There are some debates on immigration in Australia. Some are for immigrants to this country, and some are against. For the former, immigrants lead economic benefits as mentioned above, and also cause social benefits. As for the latter, they think there is not enough room for immigrants because their main destinations such as Sydney is overpopulated, and inland areas are not enough to support them for limited water.
The future issues on immigration to Australia will be:
- Control of immigration number
- The number of Skilled Stream immigrants and control of the entry criteria
- Humanitarian Program
CONCLUSION
This report is summarizing the sources for a survey. This information will be:
- Used for a survey in the next final assignment
Masayo Kuroyanagi
Diploma of International Business
21 May, 2003
5 REFERENCES
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2000) Migration, 1998-99, Cat. no. 3412.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003) Australian Demographic Statistics, September Quarter 2002, Cat. no. 3101.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003) Overseas Arrivals and Departures, February 2003, Cat. no. 3401.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs, (2003)
Healey, J. (ed.) (2000) Issues in Society—Multiculturalism, vol. 126, NSW: The Spinney Press
Healey, J. (ed.) (2002) Issues in Society—Australia’s Immigration Debate, vol. 171, NSW: The Spinney Press
Healey, K. (ed.) (1995) Issues for the Nineties—Global Migration, vol. 47, NSW: The Spinney Press
MacLeod, R. (2003) Study/learning Guide for BSBCMN405A, Analyse & Present Research Information, Gold Coast: Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
Moffatt, P. (2003) The Report Writing Guide, Gold Coast: Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
