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Tonight I would like to mnentionI some of the important initiatives
the Government has taken recently in Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
On the one hand, there is a need to maintain a strong and viable
Immigration programme which meet Australia's needs for skilled
manpower and satisfies the desires of existing residents to be
re-united with members of their families.
But we also need to ensure that this inflow of migrants . is
controlled in fairness, both to those seeking entry to Australia
and to our residents. Our recent initiatives have sought to
reconcile both these objectives.
We are making it easier for relatives and friends of Australia
to migrate if they are assured of support here; this is being
done through a relaxation of our migrant entry requirements
announced by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs,
Ian Macphee in May this year.
At the same time, we are. taking action to curb future illegal
immigration by removing its principal incentive the possibility
of later obtaining the right of legal permanent residence here.
In deciding on these initiatives the Government had to face the
fact that Australia already has many thousands of illegal
immigrants.
Their numbers have been building up over a period of years but'
particularly since the " easy visa system"' for tourists was
introduced in 1973.
This. system was widely abused and was later abandoned.
But, for course, by then many illegal migrants were already
here. No-one could realistically suggest that we should seek out,
detain and deport every illegal immigrant in Australia.
Many have been here for some years and have established themselves
successfully. / 2
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others have close family ties which cannot be ignored.
At the same time the Government believes that people who were
here legally, but temporarily should not be treated less
favourably than those who were here illegally.
Anyone who arrived in Australia before 1 January 1980, whether
legally or illegally, is eligible to apply under what is
called the " regularisation of status programme" and will be
approved unless he or she has serious health or character
problems. I am pleased to say that the English language and ethnic media
press, radio and television have given strong editorial
and other support to the programme.
Ethnic community leaders have also lent their weight.
By last week, just over a month since the date that the
programme was announced, more than 11,500 enquiries and
5,000 applications had already been made to the Department
of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
This is an excellent response and, as the opportunity to apply
remains open until 31 December this year, it gives every
indication of being a most successfull initiative.
Reaching people who are eligible to apply is a very complex
task and it requires the fullest possible support from other
sections of the community.
Even when they learn about the opportunity to become legal
permanent residents, many of these people are afraid to come
forward because they fear that, in some way, it may be a trap
to lure them into the open so that they can be seized, gaoled
and deported.
For these people I have a simple, direct message: this is not
a trap.
The Government is not engaged on some sort of massive deportation
exercise. This would be neither effective nor just.
Indeed, the Australian community would be outraged if any
government attempted deception of that kind.
The first person illegally living in Australia to come forward
was-a young Greek girl living in Goulburn, New South Wales,
Jenny Giannopoulos.
You may have seen television interviews with her on the day
when she was told she was approved. / 3
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Her relief and happiness were apparent as was her concern
to encourage others, by her example, to come forward.
Many have already done so and I hope that many more will
follow.
The programme is not just something of beneift to persons
illegally in Australia.
People who were here legally can also benefit from it.
T am particularly pleased, therefore, that one of the greatest
sportsmen of all time, a man whose name is a household word in
this country as it is in his homeland, the West Indies, has
agreed to place his own considerable personal prestige bEhind
the programme.
I refer to Sir Garfield Sobers who has become the first . person
legally in this country approved under the new arrangements.
Between the young Greek girl illegally here and the distinguished
international sportsman, there are many thousands of other
cases each of which would be a story in itself.
The Government is determined to legalise their status as
quickly and as simply as possible unless there are very grave
reasons indeed for not doing so.
In fact, no case will be rejected until my colleague, the
Minister for Immigrationaid Ethnic Affair has personally
considered all the circumstances of the case.
I also want particularly to stress that from the moment -they
are granted permanent residence under the programme, people have
the same rights as any other resident of Australia.
They will have the same right to sponsor relatives and friends.
They will have the same right, after three years' legal residence
here, to apply for Australian citizenship.
They will have the same rights and access to the post-arrival
settlement services which we have been developing and extending
to assist-newcomers.
The task of settling people in this country is not complete when
a migrant arrives or when someone is granted change of status;
this is only the beginning.
We have introduced, extended and improved a wide range-c'f
settlement services for migrants in order to help resolve the
problems inevitable in making one's way in a new country and
to reinforce their prospects of success economically, socially
and culturally.
This action flows from the Galbally Report which we commissioned,
accepted in full and implemented promptly and effectivel. y.
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But I turn again, as one must, from these broader national
purposes to the individuals'who have lived and are living
among us in unnecessary apprehension because they have entered
here illegally or failed to leave when their visas expired.
I urge them to come forward. Ltk-~ F1 i~ S--s-