Applications for Refugee Status

Extract from the CURRENT HOUSE HANSARD Database Date: 6 February 1997

Ms Hanson asked the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, upon notice, on 20 November 1996:

(1) How many applications for refugee status have been received since November 1995.

(2) How many applications for refugee status received since November 1995 were from Thai females.

(3) What is the average time taken to process an application for refugee status, from the date of lodgement to the date of final decision.

(4) What percentage of applications for refugee status since November 1995 were successful.

(5) What was the average cost of processing unsuccessful applications for refugee status since November 1995.

Mr Ruddock--"The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:"

(1) 9,144 people made applications for a protection visa during the period from 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1996.

(2) 183 Thai females applied for a protection visa during the period from 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1996.

(3) From application to determination, the average processing time for all applications processed during the period 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1996 was 16 months. It is to be noted, however, that this processing rate is affected by the backlog of applications. A more meaningful indicator is processing time after interview. For all cases lodged and processed during the period 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1996 the average processing time from interview to primary decision was 2.3 months.

(4) 17.78 per cent of applications determined at the primary stage from 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1996 were successful.

(5) Processing costs for unsuccessful applications for a protection visa since November 1995 cannot be calculated separately. In 1995/96 running costs for the Determination of Refugee Status Sub Program were $11.5 million and a total of 5,674 primary cases (covering 7,593 people) were determined.

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