In a press statement this Sunday 28 April 2019, PM Scott Morrison Announced that Coalition will cap Australia’s annual refugee intake to 18,750 places (down from current figure of 20,000 places).
Further, the Government plans to review the number of number of arrivals with greater focus on settlement to regional Australia by increasing the target from 30% to 40%.
Though the UNHCR recommends or refers people for resettlement, the ultimate decision to grant a visa rests with Australia’s Immigration Department. Australia has four offshore refugee category visas: Refugee (visa subclass 200); In‐Country Special Humanitarian (visa subclass 201); Emergency Rescue (visa subclass 203); and Woman at Risk (visa subclass 204).
Refugees seeking to enter Australia on a Refugee visa (subclass 200) must satisfy numerous criteria that are more onerous than onshore Protection visas. Addition requirements include that the Minister must be satisfied that there are ‘compelling reasons for giving special consideration to granting the visa’ having regard to:
- the degree or severity of persecution to which they are subject
- the extent of their connection with Australia
- whether another country can provide for the applicant’s settlement and protection from persecution and
- the capacity of the Australian community to provide for their permanent settlement.
Also, the Minister must be satisfied that their permanent settlement would be the appropriate course for the applicant and would not be contrary to the interests of Australia.
Full article can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-27/coalition-election-pledge-to-cap-australia-annual-refugee-intake/11051932