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Print Chapter 7 (PDF 116KB) | < - Report Home < - Chapter 6 : Appendix A - > |
Introduction
Background
The Amendments
Consultation
Costs and obligations
Entry into force
Conclusion and recommendation
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Introduction |
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7.1 | The amendments to the constitution of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will strengthen the governance structure of the Organization. The amendments will streamline IOM processes, further strengthening its responsiveness and service efficiency; provide an incentive for states to settle outstanding contributions, thereby reducing adverse effects on IOM’s ability to deliver services from non-paying members; free up administrative resources by abolishing the IOM executive committee without affecting Australia’s ability to influence IOM decision making; and explicitly provide that new states must join, in accordance with their own domestic constitutional processes.1 |
Background |
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7.2 | The International Organization for Migration was established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organisation to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants. Since the end of the Cold War and with the effects of globalisation, the IOM has grown very rapidly in size and stature. With this growth has come an increase in its reach and capacity to deliver migration management services worldwide. The IOM’s mission is to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management, to advance understanding of migration issues, to encourage social and economic development through migration and to uphold the dignity and wellbeing of migrants.2 |
7.3 | The IOM’s income is derived from the sale of its services on a fee-for-service basis. In addition, the IOM receives administrative contributions from Member States.3 |
7.4 | In the 2005 calendar year, Australia purchased services to the value of just over $US42 million.4 In addition, Australia annually provides approximately $A700 000 to the IOM’s administrative budget.5 |
7.5 | The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs informed the Committee of the services that Australia has recently purchased from the IOM:
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The Amendments |
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7.6 | The constitutional Amendments to the IOM would:
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Consultation |
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7.7 | The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet were consulted and each supported the Amendments.10 |
7.8 | As the Amendments concern the internal operations of the IOM, consultation with State and Territory governments was unnecessary.11 |
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Costs and obligations |
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7.9 | The Amendments to the IOM do not impose additional obligations on Australia to those which currently exist, nor do they impose extra costs or require legislative change.12 |
Entry into force |
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7.10 | The Amendments to the Constitution of the International Organisation for Migration were written up on 24 November 1998. As of February 2006, 41 States had accepted the Amendments. |
7.11 | The Amendments must be accepted by two-thirds majority or 78 of the 116 Member States. The Committee received evidence that it is likely to be some time before the IOM has received notification of acceptance from the two-third majority.13 |
7.12 | The current slow rate of acceptance is not considered to result from any objection to the Amendments.14 |
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Conclusion and recommendation |
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7.13 | Although there are a number of international bodies involved with migration related issues, the Committee acknowledges that no other agency matches the IOM’s worldwide presence and breadth of services.15 |
7.14 | As Australia purchases a range of IOM services and makes a considerable contribution to the Organizations administrative budget, it is clearly in Australia’s interests that the Organization operates with improved efficiency. |
Recommendation 6
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Dr Andrew Southcott MP Committee Chair |
1 | Mr Peter Hughes, Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006, p. 1. Back |
2 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 1. Back |
3 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 3. Back |
4 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 3. Back |
5 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 3. Back |
6 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 3. Back |
7 | National Interest Analysis (NIA), para. 8. Back |
8 | NIA, para. 8. Back |
9 | NIA, para. 8. Back |
10 | NIA, Consultation Annex, para. 2. Back |
11 | NIA, Consultation Annex, para. 1. Back |
12 | NIA, para. 19. Back |
13 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 6. Back |
14 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 6. Back |
15 | Mr Peter Hughes , Transcript of Evidence, 20 June 2006 , p. 2. Back |
Print Chapter 7 (PDF 116KB) | < - Report Home < - Chapter 6 : Appendix A - > |