Lundy, Sen Kate

Senator Lundy: The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) (a) Table 1 outlines the instances of estimated visa overstay for clients, by month since 2008. Table 1 Visa Overstayers 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Jul 690 690 960 1,420 1,420 Aug 780 1,460 870 1,280 1,130 Sept 870 970 1,160 1,950 2,260 Oct 760 1,220 1,330 1,790 1,570 Nov 540 800 820 1,140 1,630 Dec 570 940 820 1,520 2,010 Jan 600 1,160 1,180 1,130 1,230 Feb 1,040 840 930 1,240 1,190 Mar 910 990 1,160 1,300 2,190 Apr 1,400 2,650 3,870 4,300 2,040 May 820 920 880 1,280 1,200 Jun 360 760 1,130 1,210 1,660 Total 9,330 13,390 15,110 19,570 19,540 Some people may overstay a visa more than once within the reporting period. This information is provided as an estimate only and numbers are rounded. This data does not include people who overstayed on a bridging visa (subclasses 010, 020, 030, 040, 041, 050, 051, 060). (1) (b) Statistical reports are not available to show the current immigration status of the people covered in the table above. (2) The Department does not have the reporting resources to readily identify the additional requested information, and a substantial diversion of resources would be required. (3) No. The extent to which visa overstayers reside at locations known to the department cannot be determined before a compliance field visit takes place. (4) Table 2 outlines for each month since January 2008, the number of instances where an individual has been located in the month, within Australia, without a valid visa. The same individual may be located and counted more than once. Table 2 Unlawful Non-Citizens Located Month /Year 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Jul 1,039 953 1,251 1,182 1,211 Aug 1,116 797 1,105 1,150 1,329 Sep 809 987 1,164 1,193 1,423 Oct 818 1,031 1,184 1,116 1,201 Nov 887 927 1,003 1,131 1,333 Dec 696 934 1,106 1,022 1,156 Jan 908 1,000 1,021 1,149 1,231 Feb 833 926 1,189 1,002 1,291 Mar 1,037 1,294 1,475 1,444 1,394 Apr 940 1,081 1,364 1,082 1,264 May 973 1,130 1,295 1,184 1,425 Jun 869 1,170 1,012 1,176 1,219 Total 10,925 12,230 14,169 13,831 15,477 As a result of updates to Departmental systems 2008-09 totals differ from those in Annual Report 2008-09. (5) Table 3 outlines for each month since January 2008, the number of instances of compliance related departures. The data does not relate to individuals mentioned at 1 (b) as the Department can not readily identify them. Furthermore, Departmental systems cannot readily determine figures on the countries to which these unlawful non-citizens were removed, but people are generally removed or returned to their country of citizenship. Table 3 All onshore Compliance related departures (exc IMAs, IFFs and other unauthorised arrivals) Month /Year 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Jul 601 504 529 707 780 Aug 552 459 546 663 689 Sep 512 436 506 664 679 Oct 435 396 458 640 720 Nov 502 440 481 673 695 Dec 516 510 576 589 685 Jan 501 504 480 734 739 Feb 462 448 614 602 665 Mar 510 473 677 723 722 Apr 499 445 674 656 687 May 434 403 766 661 749 Jun 392 418 614 696 703 Total 5,916 5,436 6,921 8,008 8,513 (6) (a) and (b) Reports are not available to identify the people in the cohort described at questions 5 and 1 (b) and who have since been removed. Accordingly the Department is unable to provide reports on the removal costs and repayments for these individuals. Overall, the average costs per removal have remained relatively constant across the 2011-12 and preceding year, being in the vicinity of $4,000 to $5,000 per client. This is based on departmental removal supplier costs averaged out across the total removals conducted during each financial year. This figure does not include detention and case management costs. (7) (a) Table 4 outlines for each month since January 2008, the number of instances where an individual has been located in the month, within Australia, without a valid visa as at 30 June 2012. The same individual may be located and counted more than once. Table 4 Unlawful Non-Citizens Located who remain in Australia without valid visa as at 30 June 2012 Month /Year 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Jul 44 78 136 131 103 Aug 51 64 100 140 120 Sep 19 76 122 116 126 Oct 44 61 133 103 84 Nov 59 55 101 135 103 Dec 34 60 108 117 96 Jan 43 79 110 106 103 Feb 45 71 107 86 94 Mar 62 139 145 139 92 Apr 63 77 136 99 85 May 95 134 190 111 147 Jun 68 123 84 83 155 Total 627 1017 1472 1366 1308 (7) (b) The Department does not have the reporting resources to readily identify the additional requested information.