Refugee law policies and procedures.

In 1990 and 1991 the Government of Australia made numerous amendments to Australias Migration Act 1958 and regulations issued under the Act to change the way in which applicants for refugee status are treated. Among the major changes are the following: a) persons recognized as refugees will no longer be granted immediate permanent residence but will be given a 4-year domestic protection temporary entry permit (DPTEP); b) at the expiration of this permit they are eligible for permanent resident status if places are available in the migration program and if the need for protection still exists; c) if such status is not granted they are entitled to seek a further DPTEP; d) a person granted a DPTEP is authorized to nominate his or her spouse and children for temporary settlement; e) when the nomination is approved the spouse and children must apply for a Domestic Protection Temporary Visa; e) as of 12 July 1990 persons who had valid entry permits and who had applied for refugee status are no longer eligible for a further entry permit; and f) persons will be given 28 days to lodge refugee applications. In addition new procedures have been established for assessing refugee claims and for granting a DPTEP on humanitarian grounds if refugee status is not granted. These are summarized in the Appendix to this volume under Section 820. The rules relating to humanitarian grounds have been tightened.