PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 27 JUNE 19g0
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER FOR
IMMIGRATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS, MR HAND
PRC nationals in Australia on 20 June 1989 will be able to
stay in Australia for four years under a s pecial category of
temporary residence permit. No PRC national in Australia on
June 1989 will be required during the four years or
subsequently to return to China against their will unless
they have seriously breached Australian laws.
Whether PRC nationals in this special category who wish to
stay beyond the four years gain an extension of their
temporary residence status or whether they gain permanent
residence will depend upon conditions then prevailing in
China. Unless we were confident that the situation in the
PRC was such that human rights were no longer generally at
risk, permanent residence would be granted to those who
apply, subject to normal health And character checks. The
timing of such a grant of permanent residence, will depend
on the rate at which places can be provided in the
immigration program at that stage, and in the meantime their
temporary residence permits would be extended.
In reaching this position the Government has had regard to
the inherent uncertainty of developments in China over the
coming years. The Government does not believe that PRC
nationals in this group should be compelled to make
decisions in the near future about their longer term plans
in conditions of such uncertainty and risk. This decision
therefore combines the government's humanitarian
obligations to this group of people, with its responsibility
to maintain control over the size and structure of
Australia's immigration program in the national interest.
The decision to allow four years' temporary residence to
this group before considering the option of permanent
residence will give these people a generous period in which
to assess developments in their homeland before deciding
whether they wish to return there, or stay in Australia. In
making those decisions they will obviously be heavily
influenced by developments in China over that time. But
they will also be influenced by the pull of homeland, family
and friends. Many may choose to leave Australia over the
next four years. A good number has already done so. 8293
The special four-year permit will carry the same conditions
as those applying to the permits to be granted to those
given refugee and humanitarian status under the new Asylum
policy announced today. Holders of the special permits will
be allowed to work. They will be entitled to lodge
sponsorship for their spouses and dependent children after 1
February 1991. The Government will now be considering in
detail the terms attaching to the temporary residence
permits to be held by this group, including such issues as
access to income support, health services and labour
market/ training programs. An announcement on these matters
will be made soon, after Cabinet consideration.
Chinese nationals in Australia on 20 June may apply for the
special four-year permit from 1 August 1990, when the
regulation creating the category will come into force.
They will not need to seek refugee or humanitarian status
to qualify for the special four-year permit, and those who
have already sought such status should seriously consider
withdrawing those applications and apply instead for the
special permit. There are long processing queues for
residence on refugee or humanitarian grounds, and while in
the queue, applicants will not have the sponsorship rights
of those in the special group.
Tertiary students in Australia on 20 June 1989 can apply for
the balance of the four years at the conclusion of their
courses. The same applies to PRC nationals in Australia on
June who are unsuccessful in their applications for
permanent residence.
PRC nationals who arrived in Australia after 20 June 1990
will not be entitled to the special four-year permit. The
government assumes they will return home when their entry
permits expire, like any other temporary residents.
These people went through revised exit procedures before
leaving China, and they entered Australia on a temporary
basis, in full knowledge of the conditions in their country.
Anybody who arrived after 20 June 1989 who believes he or
she has particular claims is of course entitled to apply for
refugee or humanitarian status but such claims will be
assessed on a case by case basis.
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