Media release by the Honourable Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
The Gillard Government will continue its commitment to providing refuge for the world’s most vulnerable people by accepting 20 000 people through the humanitarian program in 2013-14.
‘Millions of people are displaced around the world and we should be very proud of Australia’s part in providing refugees with protection,’ the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Brendan O’Connor, said today.
Key features of the humanitarian program include:
The program will also include up to 500 places for people proposed under the community proposal pilot scheme to be introduced later this month, subject to the agreement of the Governor-General to several necessary regulation changes.
‘This scheme will provide another avenue for humanitarian entrants with existing community ties to come to Australia, while minimising the cost to taxpayers,’ Mr O’Connor said.
Mr O’Connor said the government would continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to identify those in need of resettlement in other parts of the world such as Africa and Asia.
‘The humanitarian program is part of a broader whole-of-government approach to supporting displaced populations in our region,’ Mr O’Connor said.
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