THE Government is countering criticism of its border protection measures with a $650 million six-year plan to tackle people smuggling and intercept asylum-seeker boats.
The money will include funds to increase patrolling time for border protection boats, two new aircraft to assist in surveillance, and a number of intelligence and policing programs to counter people smuggling in Indonesia.
But the Government will continue to soften its immigration program for those seeking protection visas, with $77.4 million allocated for a more humane immigration detention regime, and the scrapping of the controversial 45-day rule which restricts access to Medicare and work rights for some visa applicants.
The people-smuggling measures include $324 million to increase the patrolling hours of navy and customs ships, while a further $63 million has been allocated for two surveillance aircraft.
The Government will also spend $110 million on extending people-smuggling intelligence operations with Indonesian police and other international organisations on the back of multinational talks at the Bali Process in April.
The Government has been criticised by the Opposition for softening its immigration policies, claiming it has encouraged a surge in unauthorised boat arrivals since scrapping the offshore immigration processing on Pacific Islands in September. Since then, 19 boats have arrived in Australian waters, carrying over 700 people.
But Immigration Minister Chris Evans has continued to modify Australia's immigration program, as foreshadowed in a speech last July that outlined a set of immigration values.
Senator Evans confirmed the maligned Villawood detention centre will get a $183 million, five-year upgrade. The centre has long been the target of criticism from Human Rights groups, who claim its conditions are inhumane.
The Government will also fund a $77.4 million change to the immigration detention program, including giving those in detention better access to welfare, medical and legal rights.
And in an important policy move, the Government is scrapping the rule that restricts asylum seekers who apply for a visa after 45 days of arriving in Australia from working, and claiming Medicare benefits. Asylum seekers will now be able to work and claim Medicare benefits while waiting on their protection visa application, but will not be able to claim welfare benefits.
In the budget papers, $5.4 million has been set aside over four years to pay for the expected rise in Medicare costs associated with the change in asylum-seeker rights.
In another measure that had been expected , the skilled migration intake has been slashed for the second time this year, down 6900 places to 108,100 overall for 2009-10.
In March, Senator Evans cut the skilled migration intake for the second half of this financial year from 133,500 to 115,000.
Humanitarian visa levels remain unchanged at 13,750 places, while there will be a modest 3800-place increase to the family visa intake, taking it to 60,300.
