CONFIDENTIAL LOCSEN
(66
127714
MDADAN 3988
CONFIDENTIAL
LOCSEN
FM CANBERRA
TO
IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 443
OF 17051OZ AUGUST 92
ADVANCE COPY
INFO ROUTINE WELLINGTON, OTTAWA, ACTOR
FOR MASEFIELD AND MISS SPENCER PERSONAL FROM HIGH COMMISSIONER
65
MY TELNO 440: WORKING HOLIDAY-MAKER SCHEME
SUMMARY
1. HOME OFFICE PROPOSALS TO RESTRICT COMMONWEALTH HOLIDAYMAKERS OBJECTIONABLE NOT ONLY AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH OUR BILATERAL OBJECTIVES BUT ALSO ON WIDER GROUNDS OF INCONSISTENCY WITH BRITISH POLICY OF FOSTERING FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE. BASIS FOR PROPOSED 'CONSULTATION' OF BRITISH OPINION ALSO OBJECTIONABLE.
DETAIL
2. I STRONGLY ENDORSE POINTS IN TUR (SENT IN MY TEMPORARY ABSENCE BUT AFTER DISCUSSION WITH ME).
3. BUT IN ADDITION TO THESE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE HOME OFFICE PROPOSALS FOR BRITISH-AUSTRALIAN RELATIONS, THERE SEEMS TO ME A STRONG CASE FOR RESISTING THEM ON WIDER AND AT LEAST EQUALLY COGENT GROUNDS. THE WHOLE THRUST OF THE HO CASE REFLECTS A HANKERING FOR EVER MORE RESTRICTION AND CONTROL OF OVERSEAS (INDEED IN THIS CASE COMMONWEALTH) VISITORS TO BRITAIN. THIS IS SURELY QUITE INCOMPATIBLE WITH HMG'S COMMITMENT IN NUMEROUS FORUMS CSCE, THE UN, IN CONTEXT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO ENCOURAGING FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG, BETWEEN COUNTRIES. CERTAINLY THIS IS OUR PROCLAIMED POLICY IN RELATION TO AUSTRALIA AND NO DOUBT OTHER OLD COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES.
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J
E.G.
4. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE EXISTING SCHEME FOR WORKING HOLIDAY-MAKERS POSES ANY SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO BRITISH INTERESTS SUCH AS TO JUSTIFY CHANGING IT IN SUCH AN UNGENEROUS AND RESTRICTIVE MANNER AS THAT PROPOSED. NO DOUBT SOME ABUSES OCCUR BUT OUR IMPRESSION (CERTAINLY SO FAR AS AUSTRALIA IS CONCERNED) IS THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY ON AN INSIGNIFICANT SCALE.
OR IF A FEW AUSTRALIANS TAKE FULL-TIME JOBS AWAY FROM BRITONS OVERSTAY, THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY MORE BRITISH WORKING HOLIDAY-
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