[Letterhead for ‘AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION’ in ‘KUALA LUMPUR’, displaying Australian coat of arms.]

In reply quote No. [blank space]

Memorandum No. IMM: 349

[Stamped in blue ink ‘RECEIVED’, ’13 JUN 1972’, ‘Dept. of Immigration Canberra’.]

Secretary

Department of Immigration

CANBERRA.

6 June 1972

Attention: Management Services Branch

[Underlined:] NE and MD Sections

[Underlined heading:] SITUATION REPORT

Our purpose in this memorandum is to indicate the current general situation at this post. We intend to complement this with a further memorandum sumarising [sic] the migration activity during the past two years and indicating possible future trends as soon as we have the statistics available for the month of June.

2. At present our office is receiving monthly about 95 initial inquiries of which 35 result in firm applications, 7 of which are from persons of mixed descent [sic], 24 from non-Europeans and 4 from Europeans (usually overland travellers). From a statistical point of view we have adopted a more careful approach to applications so that M47’s are received from only persons who appear to have some reasonable possibility of being approved in terms of the formal criteria for eligibility. Those inquirers who are definitely ineligible and for which no reasons for special consideration have been advanced, are not offered an M47. In view of this approach we feel that our statistical reports since June 1971 indicate the actual situation although the numbers of new applicants may appear deflated by comparison with the earlier period.

3. In December 1970 we had a total of 312 applications pending of which 244 were NE [Non-European] and 68 MD [Mixed Descent]. This number has been reduced to 216 comprising of 187 NE and 29 MD respectively. The overall reduction has been to 69% of those pending in December 1970. Further, we have been able to reduce the interval between the receipt of the M47 to interview from 14 weeks to one or two weeks (except during such periods as visits to East Malaysia and Brunei). [Annotated in margin in blue pen ‘Good.’] We are also now in a better position to deal with ad hoc [underlined] interviews and are usually able to deal with direct personal inquiries immediately.

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[Letterhead for ‘AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION’ in ‘KUALA LUMPUR’, displaying Australian coat of arms.]

4. The improvement here has been due to a number of factors. Firstly, we have been able to locally engage an excellent young English woman for the position of secretary-clerk in the section. This has meant that not only have the duties of this position been deal with expeditiously but also more carefully and thoroughly. In consequence, we have followed up a large number of long outstanding cases which have been brought now to finality. The efficiency, and also the image of the office, has been much improved by the use of pro forma [underlined] letters and forms of good quality. These have been printed at low cost which is possible here. Examples of these are attached for your consideration together with comments on their nature and purpose.

5. Our initial visit to East Malaysia was delayed, firstly because of the very large backlog which we had to deal with at the post, and later because of the financial restrictions imposed upon the post towards the end of the 1970/71 financial year. Therefore our first visit did not take place until November 1971 when we visited Kota Kinabalu, Brunei and Kuching. A total of 67 interviews were dealt with during this visit. Apart from the nomination cases, the largest single group of applicants consisted of school teachers of Indian race and nationality who were working in East Malaysia and Brunei. The main motivation in their desire to settle in Australia was simply one of job security rather than positive attraction, and most of them were rejected on the grounds of either ineligibility or unsuitability. We visited East Malaysia and Brunei again in May this year and dealt with a further 27 of the 31 cases scheduled. As we have now dealt with the backlog of cases from this part of Malaysia, we expect that the application rate will be about 30 each half year and we intent visiting there each March and September. On the later visit we were able to visit the smaller towns of Sandakan and Sibu as well as the major centres previously mentioned. We will endeavour to continue this practice were required.

6. In planning our first visit to East Malaysia, we realised that there was a need for a more convenient and economical form of preparing assessment reports and therefore we designed the present form which which [sic] you are familiar. We consider this to be an improvement on the previous method of simply writing a lengthy memorandum for each particular case. We consider that this convenience and economy is not only one which relates to the post but to those processing applications in Central Office, in that it gives a more comprehensive and precise idea of the persons on whom we are reporting. We intend to modify and improve this method of reporting in the light of further experiences and any comments and suggestions you have to offer in this regard would be appreciated.

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[Letterhead for ‘AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION’ in ‘KUALA LUMPUR’, displaying Australian coat of arms.]

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7. We have noticed that during the last six months Central Office has been able to process applications more rapidly and that we are receiving decisions on cases referred to you generally much earlier. This has enabled us not only to finalise cases more quickly but has also reduced our work load in that we do not have the same number of follow-up enquiries on applications. Further, we consider that it considerable improves our image and creates the impression that the Australian Government deals with applications quite expeditiously with due regard for the persons concerned.

8. In view of the improved situation here generally, we have been able to give more time to counselling approved migrants prior to their departure to Australia. Although no programme of counselling is at present envisaged, we are pleased to be able to give more freely of our time to those who approach us seeking advice on various matters. We have also been helped in this regard by the supply of appropriate literature from Central Office and London, which appears to be very much appreciated by prospective settlers.

[Handwritten signature:] LR Coutts

L.R. Coutts

Second Secretary (Consular)