AUSTRALIA’S REsponse to the Ukraine displacement crisis
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, after months of building up its military presence near the Ukrainian border. Russian attacks have been ongoing, including attacks on hospitals, residential buildings, and the city of Lviv close to the border with Poland.
As of 18 March 2022, the UN estimates 6.5 million people have been forcibly displaced within Ukraine, and 3.3 million have left the country. This means that more than 23 percent of Ukraine’s population are now displaced.
This explainer sets out the Australian government’s support to Ukrainian refugees and its response to Russia’s invasion. The Australian government’s response thus far has included extending visas, priority processing and temporary protection. No announcements have been made on permanent resettlement of refugees from Ukraine.
Visa extensions for Ukrainians in Australia
On 23 February 2022, the Australian government announced a 6 month visa extension to all Ukrainian nationals in Australia with a visa due to expire before 30 June 2022. More information on foreign citizens in Australia who can no longer return home safely can be read here.
Priority visa processing and temporary protection.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that any visa applications from Ukrainian nationals are a ‘top priority’ in terms of processing. After two years of low migration intake, the Prime Minister said that there was ‘quite a lot of room’ for more places and Ukrainians would have priority in all streams.
Since 24 February 2022, more than 5,000 visas have been granted to Ukrainians and 7500 of those visa holders have arrived in Australia on various types of visas.
On 20 March 2022, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that these arrivals would now be eligible for a Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa, which is valid for three years and allows the visa holder to work, study and access Medicare.
Will Australia resettle Ukrainian refugees?
Resettlement is one of the durable solutions available to refugees, the others being local integration and voluntary repatriation. Resettlement is when a refugee is transferred from a country in which they first sought asylum, to another country that has agreed to provide them with permanent protection.
Australia resettles refugees under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program. The government allocates a certain number of visas that Australia will accept under the program each year, however, these numbers have not been reached during the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, no announcement has been made to lift the cap of 13,750 visas reserved for refugees in Australia under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program for 2021/2022.
Both Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet have offered their support to the federal government in resettling Ukrainian refugees.
How has Australia’s response been received?
Australia’s response has been criticised in comparison to its response to Afghanistan. Commentators have argued ‘the speed and manner’ of Australia’s response ‘is in stark contrast to its lack of action in response to other major crises facing the world, in particular the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan’. Others argue that the shift in attitude towards refugees in Australia could be used ‘to reframe public perceptions toward refugees more broadly, and allow greater empathy to develop for those fleeing other conflict zones too’.
What is Australia’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
Australia responded to Russia’s invasion by implementing sanctions against Russia, providing military and other aid to Ukraine, and referring Russia to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On 23 February 2022, the Australian government announced sanctions on Russian individuals, organisations, and banks in a move designed to ‘impose a sharp cost on Russia for its unprovoked and unacceptable aggression against Ukraine’. These sanctions include travel bans on key Russian individuals, prohibiting business with Russian banks, and prohibiting the import of oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, coal and other energy resources from Russia.
On 1 March 2022, the Australian government announced that it will provide approximately $70 million in ‘lethal military assistance’, including missiles and weapons, to support the defence of Ukraine. In response to a request from the Ukrainian government, non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies will also be provided, as well as around $35 million of humanitarian support to international organisations working with Ukrainians seeking asylum in neighbouring countries.
On 20 March 2022, the Australia government offered further funding support, extended sanctions against Russia by banning the export of alumina and aluminium ores to Russia, and donated at least 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal to Ukraine. This new announcement brings the totals committed by the Australian government to $91 million of defensive military support and $65 million of emergency humanitarian support, in addition to $10 million donated to the World Food Programme and $2 million to the Emergency Action Alliance Ukraine Appeal. To assist new arrivals from Ukraine, the Australiang government has also provided a $450,000 grant to assist community groups providing support to Ukrainian arrivals.
Next → AUSTRALIA’ S RESPONSE TO REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN
If you think that something on this page is incorrect, please let us know.
Last updated 22 March 2022